Medina Township

Medina Township

The first settler within the limits now comprisefl in this township was undoubtedly George Love, who came with his family from Park Co., Indian;i, and settled November 10, 1824, near the spot now occupied by the village of Mossville. He had at that time no nearer neighbor than Fort Clark in one direction, and the Fox river in the other. In course of the succeeding year some five or six families settled near them. John Ridgcway WiLS the first to follow and he helped the Loves to build tlieir house. Eilmund Weed Briarley. Abner Cooper, Henry Thomas and Samuel Clifton came next. The latter on coming bought out Weed's claim. Several other families whose names can not now be learned settled within a mile or so of Love's cabin, but staying only a short time sold their claims and moved on towards the setting sun. This was at that time the most thickly settled portion of the northern half of Peoria county. No saw or grist mill was erected in the township till about the year 18.50, except some circle saw-mills which were put u|i about 18.5.3. The Indians at that time were very numerous. The Puttawattomies were native to the county, and numerous other roving bands of Sacs, Foxes and Winnelmgoes with a few Chippeways and Delawares were encamped and hunted all over it.

In 182.5 a small colony sprung up near the nortliern boundary of the township, and among those forming it were the Avery's, Stephen French, Stephen Carl, and Resolve Cleveland with their families and they occupieil at first the abandoned i)ark houses of an Indian town on Sec. 4. In the Spring of 1H:',1, Mr. Linas Scovill with his family came from Vermillion county, Ind., and settled on a claim which he had previously bought from one of the Love family. The claim then entered upon is still owned b^' Mr. Scovill's son, who bears his father's name. The settlement at Mossville was directly in the track of tlie emigration going on itetwecn the years 1828 to 18:1.5, to (Jalena, and the numbers passing through afforded a ready market for all surplus grain, garden jiroducts, etc. .Much was also disposed of to voyagers ujion the river. Between 18ol and 1840 the district was settled up rapidly, and good claims advanced greatly in price. Among those coming between these vears mav be mentioned, Gershom Silliman and family who seton Sec. 2 in 18.T1. John E. Bristol and Nicholas Sturm in 1S.',2. Tlios. .Mooney and his sons James and William in 18:5.5, J. H. and I. W. Case in ls8t;, William H(ibins(ui in 18:17, anil John P. Ntal and Jonathan W. Rice in 18.',8. Simon Reed and Hiram M. Curry were the first justices of the peace, and held office in 182!>. The first marriage was that of Abner Cooper to Sally Sheldon in February, 182t), near Mossville. They were married by Rev. Mr. Cormack, a Baptist preacher. Rev. John Thomas also a Baptist, preached the first sermon.

In April, lM,50, the towiishij) in common with the others forming Peoria county, was constituted and its present name adopted. The origin of the name is veiy uncertain. The committee on names wrestled with the i)roblem for some weeks liefore they lixed upon Medina, which is certainly unobjectionable, both as regards its euphony and it* singularity.

The township consists of twenty-nine perfect sections and several fractional sections. It forms the southern part of LaSalle ])rairie ami contains some excellent land. Running north and south through tiie miildle is a Itelt of bluff land, two miles in width, covered with timber, i)Ut on each side and especially to the eastward a level prairie stretches out, dotted with as fine and productive farms as can be found anywhere. Two railroads traverse tlie towiisliiii - ilie Cliicagii. Rock Island and Pacific, and the Peoria and Rock Island. The former liavinc; a depot at Mo-sville. and the latter at Alta.

The township contains two villages. Mossville on Sec. 27 and Alta on Sec. 31. The former has a population of about two hundred, and i^ situated near the first land taken up in the township. It is on the line of the Bureau branch of the Chicaijo, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad, which was opened in 1854, and the village was laid off about the same time. It was named after Wm. S. iloss, who owned, in company with Isaac Underbill, the quarter section on wliich the village stands at the time the railroad was laid through it. Few villages of its population possess better church or school edifices. Mr. A. Marberrv, the postmaster, is proprietor of the only store in it, and the Mossville House, conducted for many years by Mr. John Crawl, offers excellent accommodation for the weary stranger.

Alta is a railway station and post ofiice on the Peoria and Rock Island Railroad, and was laid off for Imri Case, Thos. Hanson and Loren Wilder in March, 1873, and gained its name from its elevated position, being the highest point lietween Peoria and Rock Island. On account of the increased postal facilities gained from the establishment of a depot there, the village has been a great convenience to the inhabitants of that portion of the township. It contains a general stoi-e kept by Clarence Case, who is also postmaster, a grocery kept by Ahlen Hawley. the Potter Brothers' cheese factory, capable of handling several thousand pounds of milk per day, and a blacksmith and wagon shop. A prominent feature of the place is the public school. The building is one of the best in the township. A lodge of the A. F. & A. M., and a temperance reform club are prosperously conducted in the village.

St. Joseph's Catholic Church. - Previously to the year 1855 there were but few Catholics resident in the township. In that j'ear the late Thomas Mooney headed a movement for the erection of a Catholic church in the township and gave to it the practical backing of a subscription of §500 and the donation of a lot of five acres of land upon which to build it and to serve as a burial ground. His sons gave 850 each ; Patrick Boylan gave S200, and many others gave freely of their substance to aid in the good cause. The building was forthwith begun, and it was completed in the Fall of that yeax at a cost of about $1,000 in cash. The church is situated on the northwest corner of the southeast quarter of Sec. 2, and is substantially built of wood with stone foundation. The interior presents a most neat and pleasing appearance. It is capable of seating comfortably about three hundred worshipers, and the average congregation numbers about 150. It contains a large, handsome organ, and the services are rendered by a full choir.

The edifice was dedicated under its present name ten 3-ears ago by the late Rev. Father Halligan, of Chicago, and services are held every second Sunday by Rev. Thos. Quigley, of Henry, who divides his time between the church there and the one thus briefly sketched.

The Baptist Church in Mossville was organized at a meeting of the adherents of that body held in the school-house, April 9, 1868. Geo. E. Prunk was chosen as chairman, and Thos. Hough clerk. The membership of the society is at present very small, but services are held in the JNI. E. church every other Sunday. Rev. L D. Gowen. of Galva, 111., is the present pastor.

A Methodist class has been in existence in Mossville for over forty years, but the number of adherents has never been large enough to warrant the organization ot a church. Until within the last five years it was upon the Peoria Circuit, but is now upon that of Chillicothe. Services are held every second Sunday in the church edifice of the village, by Rev. J. A. Windsor.

The church building in which the religious services of Mossville are held, is quite a handsome and substantial one. and is a prominent object iu the village ; is strongly built of brick, and can comfortably seat about 200 persons. It was built about the year 1869, through tlie unitetl efforts of the church-goinp people of the village and vicinity, and more espei'ially under the auspices of the Preshvterians, at a cost nf about -*2,600. The structure is now owned !)}- Mr. S. C. Neal, who is prominently connected with the Methodist society.

Schools. - The fii-st school was started in the latter part of 1826, by Jesse McGee, who secured tlie necessary number of scliolars and tuined over the school in January. 1827, to Moses Clifton, who taught it for tluee montiis. and he was succeeded by a man named Marks. Tlie scliool was situated near Mossviile in a building erected especially for tl)at purpose. It was a log cabin, 18xlt5, witii puncheon floor, paper windows and clapboai'd door, and was daubed with mud. The cost of tuition was $2 per scholar for a term of three months. In 18:^t), a school was taught by Hiram M. ('urry in a cabin near where the residence of .Moses Neal now stands, an<l about tliree years afterwards Wiis removed to N. E. i of Sec. 27, where it remained until the school site wiis changed to its present location on Sec. 27 in Mossviile about twenty years ago. The present scliool structure in this district is a very fine one, and was built of brick at a cost of 11-1,000 about 186>^.

The first i)ublic school in the N. W. portion of the township was located in N. E. i of S. E. i of Sec. 7, and was taught about the year 1840, l)y Joseph M. Batchelder. The first [irivate school in the same district was taught by Mrs. Joiin Benjamin about the year 18."<G. in a little log cabin used as a dwelling. In siliool district No 1, the first public school was erected about 18-52, and was located in S. \V. cor. of S. E. i of Sec. .3, where it remained till 1866, when it was determined l)y public vote to build a new school-house, and to change the site to S. W. cor. of N. W. j of Sec. 2, where it now is. The first school-house built under the township organization stood upon the farm of Mr. Bristol. It was built in IHn^, and was removed to tlie eighty acres upon whicii the present school luiilding in district No. 3 now stands, in the Fall of 18."it). The present structure was built at a cost of about 82,.'>00 in 1872.

In school district No. 2 the building now in use was erected in 18-55 ; was originally a good building and has lately been repaired and fixed up anew.

BRISTOL JOHX E. (armer. Sec. i3. P. O. Alta, was bom in Oswego county, N. Y., April 26, iS:2, and is the son of John Bristol and Sarah Eno. His father was born April 17. 1777, and was a native of Connecticut, and his mother was born December 5, 17S9, and died September 13, 1871. He was raised upon his father's farm in his native county till eighteen years old, when he came to Illinois, and settling in Timber township, of Peoria county, rented a farm and worked it for one and a half years, removing March 14, 1S32, to a farm on section 22, of Medina township, where he resided for the same length of time, and where he married May 3, 1835, Annie Martin, born in Illinois, November 9^ 1817. In the following year he came to his present farm, which was then raw, unimproved land, and has ever since worked and resided upon it. Fourteen children have been born to them ; eleven are now alive - George, born June 29. 1836; Emeline, born February 12, 1838 ; Sarah, born December 29, 1839, died September 10, 1846; John Martin, born September t6. 1841 ; Cyrus, born September 17, 1843; Richard and Davis, (twins,) born October 17, 1845; James, born October 20, 1847 ; Mary, born August 28, 1850, died January 10, 1863 ; Alviu and (twins,) born March 25, 1853 ; Martin, born November 18, 1858 ; Ida, born March 25, i860 ; and Sarah Madora, born June 29, 1862, and died the lirst week in June, 1864. Mrs. Uristol died January 17, 1863, and he married December 2, 1869, Mrs. Augusta Penny, daughter of Almerious Clark, of Sackett's Harbor, JeflTcrson county, N. Y., and who was born February 11, 1818. He has eighty acres of land in home farm, worth about $55 an acre. His children are scattered all over the Western States, engaged in faiming and other occupations. In 1832 Mr. Uristol was a volunteer in the lilackhawk war ; was in Stillman's defeat at .Sycamore, and served sixty days in the field. Two of his sons, Cyrus and James, served as piivates for about (ive months, in Company B, 7th I. V. I., during the late war, and were mustered out at its close. Mr. Bristol was for twelve years justice of the peace, and for about same length of time school treasurer of township.

CASE IMKI W. farmer. Sec. 30, P. O. Alta, was born in Oswego county, N. Y., May 4, 181S, and is the eldest son and second child of Imri and Chloe A. Case, natives of same county. When about twelve years of age his father died, and in 1S36 the family removed to Illinois, settling in Medina township, of Peoria county, where they bought land on sections 29 and 30, and went to farming. In September, 1845, he married in Oswego county, N. Y., Miss Selina Howe, daughter of Newell Howe and Jane Snyder, natives of that county; who was born there December 4, 1827. Mrs. Case died October 9. 1S51, leaving behind her two children - Ensley J., born August 20, 1S4S, and Clarence E., born .\pril I, 1851. They still live and carry on business in Alta; the elder as commission merchant and the younger as post master, station agent, telegraph operator, etc. His son Ensley J., married February 2, 1S70, Miss Georgina Edgett, daughter of Geo. Edgett and Jane M. Stebblns, natives of New York, by whom he has had five children, three now living - Morris W., Wlllard S. and Florence G. His son Clarence E. was married January I, 1874, to Miss Julia B. Schnebley, daughter of Geo. W. Schnebley and Margaret Cox, of Mossville, by whom he has had two children. Mr. Case owns about 140 acres of land in home farm, and about 1,050 acres of other Land, almost all prairie, which he rents out. Was for four years justice of the peace in the early days of the township, and has also filled the offices of supervisor, school trustee and director. Is in politics a Democrat.

CASE JEKOME II. farmer, Sec. 30, P. O. Alia, was horn in Oswego county, N. V., April 29, 1821, and is the fourth child uf Imri Case and Chloe Ann Hawley. His father was a native of Connecticut, bom January 23, 1779. and his mother of Vermont, born April 13, 1784. His father died in the Stale of New York, October 24, 1 830, and six years later the family came to Peoria county, settling on section 30, of -Medina township. .'\ claim was bought and vigorous work was freely expended upon it, and the farm thus made still remains in the possession of the family. Mr. Case married November i6, 1845, Miss Maria Howe, daughter of Newell Howe and Jane Snyder, natives of Oswego county, N. Y., who was born in that county May 25, 1822, by whom he has had five children, all now living - Albert N., born November 3, 1846; Charles M., born November 23, 1847 ; Clara E., born May 30, 1849 ; Flora J., born October 11, 1852 ; and Irving J., born April 7, 1S60. Mr. Case's mother died on the old homestead in Medina, October 14, 1853. His family have all grown to man and womanhood and reside in the neighborhood. His wife died April 6, 1870, and he married December 16, 1S74, Miss Jennie Snyder, cousin to his first wife, who was born in Oswego county, N. Y.. March 16, 1842. He owns 200 acres prairie land in home farm and eighty acres under timber. Has been many years a school director. Mrs. Case is a member of M. E. Church of Glyndale, in Radnor township.

CRAWL JOHN, farmer, and hotel-keeper, res. Mossville, was born in Fayette county. Pa., M.irch 16, 1815, and was raised in Washington county, in the same State, until twenty-two years of age ; is the son of John Crawl, who was born near Hagerstown, Md., and Mary Short, born of Scotch parents near Brownsville, Pa. His father died in Farmington, Fulton county. 111., in July, 1856, and his mother in 1870, He came to Illinois in the Spring of 183S, and settled in Richwoods township, Peoria county, where he farmed and worked at his trade of carpenter. Married April 7, 1842, Sarah, daughter of Charles and Sarah Kemble, natives of Stokes county, N. C, who was born September 7, 1813, by whom he has had seven children, six now living : James \V., born October 7, 1843, died April 16, 1847; Isaac N., born November 9, 1845 ; John W., born March 13, 1848 ; Melinda E., born October 16,1849; Sarah A., born January 26, 1852; Charles C, born April 6, 1854, and Columbus B., born March 27, 1S58. He came from Richwoods township to Mossville in March, 1865, and bought his present property, which had been used as a hotel for two years previous, and he has carried on the business ever since. It is the only house of entertainment in the village, is clean and well kept, and fully meets the wants of all weary travelers. He also owns twenty acres of land contiguous to the village, which he cultivates to raise fruit and vegetables. He has been for some years a school director, and is in politics an old time Democrat.

CCTLIP JOHN, farmer. Sec. 9, P. O. Mossville, was born in Pike county, O., May 15, 1842, and is the son of John Cutlip and Caroline Cruickshank.

His mother was a native of Virginia, and resides in Medina township. His father died before his birth. When very young he moved with his mother to Wisconsin, and after a short residence there, removed to Iowa, thence back to Wisconsin, and finally, in i860, to Illinois, settling in Medina township, of Peoria county, where he has ever since resided. He married June 18, 1865, Nancy Jane Cox, who was born in Indiana in 1843, by whom he had two children : Alva, born November iS, 1S67, and Edna Jane, born August I. 1872, who died when nine weeks old. His wife died August 21, 1S72, and he married July 2, 1878, Minnie Jane Hankins, daughter of Ezekiel Hankins and Margaret Young, who was born near El Paso, 111., April 21, 1861, by whom he has one child, Arthur, born June 3, 1879. Mr. Cutlip has been eight years upon his present farm, and owns about"fifty-five acres land, twenty acres of which is bluff and the rest prairie land.

ERNST ALBERT, farmer. Sec. 5, P. O. Southampton, was born in Hesse, Germany, November 20, 1819, and is the son of Peter Ernst and Catherine Bauman, both of whom were natives of Hesse. After receiving his education, he worked in a woolen factory till about twenty-four years of age, when, in company with his brother John, he came to America, landing at New York, June II, 1843. For the next eighteen months he remained in New York City, then went to St. Louis, and from thence to Springfield, 111., where, in May, 1845, he enlisted in Company G., Richmond Mounted Rifles, and served for two years in the Mexican war, taking part in the battles of Contreras, City of Mexico, and many others of the campaign. Was mustered out at Jefterson Barracks, St. Louis, in July 1848, and directly afterwards came to Peoria City, where he married March 19, 1849, Teresa Miller, a native of Alsace, France, who came to America with her parents, February iS, 1S47. She was born February 8, 1828, and has presented him with thirteen children ; Mary, now Mrs. Wilhelm, born January g, 1850 ; Theresa, now Mrs. Backus, born March 20, 1851; Albert, born November 9, 1S53; Catherine, now Mrs. Knoblock, born February 13, 1856 ; Joseph, born February 7, 1858 ; Matilda, now Mrs. Williams, born January 20, 1859; Josephine, now Mrs. Wagener, born January 22, 1861 ; Amaly, born November 30, 1863 ; John, born October l8, 1865 ; Robert, born September 2, 1867; Bertha, born August 6, 1869; Annie, bom November 9, 1S71, and Julian, born February 16, 1876. In the July after his marriage he came to Medina township, and settled on his present location ; owns 373 acres of land in Peoria county (170 acres of which is prairie), and 160 acres in Champaign county.

HOLMES JOHN, farmer. Sec. 29, is the second of a family of two sons and two daughters, of George and Nancy Holmes, nee Donaldson, and was bom in the county of Londonderry, Ireland, in 1824 ; came with parents to the United States in 1827 ; lived in Broome county, N. V., until 1835 : came thence to Peoria county. III., and settled at Mount Holly. Mr. H.'s educational opportunities were very meager, having only attended school four months after he was ten years of age. He labored at home on the farm until twenty-eight years old, regardless of any stipulated compensation. In 1853 married Lydia A. Chambers, who was born in Indiana, in 1835. They settled on the section where they now reside, his father having presented Mr. H. with a tax title to one quarter, the patent (or which John afterwards bought. Mr. Holmes' attention has been devoted solely to agriculture, in which pursuit he has been more than ordinarily successful, and now owns 1500 acres of improved lands, free from debt, in Peoria and Marshall counties. For thirty-two consecutive years, Mr. H. has filled some local office ; served five years supervisor from Medina ; has been assessor twelve years, which office he now holds, and Was twice elected collector. Politically, he is a staunch Democrat, but not so radical as to ignore principles and men for party. Their family consists of seven sons and three daughters, two of the latter now being married, and living in Peoria county. Mr. Holmes' mother died in 1847, and father in 1873. While ready to indorse every movement for the social and moral weal of society, Mr. H. belongs to no organization of any sort.

HOUGH THOMA.S, farmer. Sec. 27, P. O Mossville, was bom September li, 1826, in Bucks county. Pa., and is the son of Robert Hough, a native of Bucks county. Pa., and Mary Kvans, a n.itive of Montgomery county. Pa. He grew to manhoo<l on his father's farm, and married in 1850 Isabel Polk, daughter of James Polk and Eliia Wallace, natives of Bucks county, who was bom August 26, 1826, by whom he had three children: Robert, horn October 6. 1851: Samuel, born May, 1853, died January, 1850, and Isabel, born July 23, 1854. Mrs. Hough died August, I, 1854, and five yean later he came to Illinois, settling in Radnor, township of Peoria county, where he firmed for two years, and married November 9, 1S62, Hannah Mary Chamberlain, the daughter of Horton Chamberlain and Jane Dickinson, natives of Indiana. She was bora in Switzerland county, of that State. January 29, 1837. By this union they have had four children: Mary, born November 27, 1863. died September 3, 1S64 ; Flizabelh, bora February 26, 1867, died August 12, l?67 ; John C, born March 19, 1869; Charles F., born December 12. 1872. In 1862 Mr. H. removed from Radnor to Medina township, and settled on his present farm, consisting of 250 acres of land, about 80 acres of which are under timber, and worth, on an average, $45 an acre. His mother died March 10, 1S76, aged 76, at Doylestown, Pa., and his father died in 1845 at the age of 55. on the old farm near the same place. Mr. Hough with his wife and daughter are members of the Baptist Church at MossviUe.

LOVE J.\MES, farmer. Sec. 2, P. O. Chillicothe, was bora December 22, 1812, and is the son of George Love and .Mary Grabbs. His early years were passed in Indiana, and in November, 1S24, he came with his parents to Peoria county, and after a stay of about a month at Fort Clark, came on to what is now Medina township, and were the first to settle within its bounds. Daniel Prince, at Princeville, was the only settler between them and Peoria, and he left the same county in Indiana (Parke county), as they did, only about seven months ahead of them. They settled at first on land near Mossville. and in 1829 removed to the farm in Sec. 23, now occupied by Moses Neal, where they remained until 1S39. In 1S32 the family was broken up, some going further West, and others taking up farms of tneir own in the township. Mr. James Love went to Galena, and worked at the mines and at butchering for about twenty-six months, and then returning to his township, started farming on Sec. 18, living for ten years with Thos. B. Reed, and on March 23, 1847, he married Amy Wilkinson, daughter of William Wilkinson and Elizabeth Nichols. Her father was a native of N. Carolina, and her mother of Green Briar county, Va. She was born in Ross county,©., February 15, 1827, and came to Medina township with her parents in 1846. They have had thirteen children, seven of whom arc now alive : Henry, bom in 1847 ; George, bora June 7, 1848; Charles, born October 29, 1 849. died August II, 1859 ; William, bom March 23. 1S51 ; Elizabeth, born February 19, 1856, died January 19, 1859; Alice, bora May 14, 1858; Emma, born July 29, 1861 ; Clayton, born April 24, 1863 ; I.aura, born May i, 1865, died March 25, 1867; Leonard, bora June 9, 1867, and three others who died in infancy. His father died June II, I S3 1. Three of his tons and one daughter

Medina Directory

MALLEN HESTRY, farmer, Sec. 2. P. O. Rome, was born in county Meath, Ireland, in 1827, and came to America in 1852, landing at New York, where he resided one year, and came to Illinois in 1S53, settling in Aurora, Kendall county, for two years, and then coming to Peoria county, where he has since resided. He married, January i6, 1856, Miss Mary Mooney, who was born in the city of New York, May 18, 1833. by whom has nine children : Helena Teresa, born January 11, 1857 ; John Edward, born June 24, 1858 ; Catharine, born Aug. 28, i860 ; Mary Ann, born Sept. 18, 1862 ; Sarah Jane, born Jan. 22, 1865 ; Margaret, born May q, 1867 ; Elizabeth, born March 10, 1869; Henry Thomas, born Nov. 22, 1870, and Agnes C, born Jan. 21, 1875. He owns 264 acres of fine farming land in the home farm, worth $40 an acre.

MARBERRY A. postmaster and dealer in groceries and notions, Mossville, was born near Paris, Henry county, Tenn., Feb. 9, 1824, and is the son of Jacob Marberry and Nancy Forest, both of whom were natives of North Carolina ; was raised and received his education in his native county, and afterwards engaged in mercantile business in the employ of John Cooney, Jr., at mouth of the Sandy, on the Tennessee river, until i860, when he came to Illinois and settled in Mossville, began business for himself, and has since resided there. Before leaving the South he married, in Stewart county, Tenn., Mary J., daughter of Thomas Palmer and Mary Jane McMunn, natives of Pennsylvania, who was bom in Tennessee, by whom he has had five children, only one now survives: A. Plant, born May 24, 1868. Mr. Marberry keeps a large stock of general merchandise, and his .store being the only one in the village, does a good business. Has been postmaster for six years, and has also held many township offices, among them that of town clerk, which he at present fills. Himself and wife are members of the Baptist Church.

MOONEY THOMAS, Sr. (deceased), formerly of Medina township, was born in county Louth, Ireland, in 1788, and was the son of Thomas Mooney, who came to New York in 1798, in consequence of his connection with the troubles of that year in his native country. He was raised in New York city, and there married, in 1812, Miss HelenaStagg, daughter of James Stagg, a native of New Jersey, by whom he had six children: James, born Dec. 15, 1814; Thomas, born

Jan. 31, 1820; Walter, bom April 22, 1822, died March 8, 187 J ; \Villi.im, born Sept 16, 1824; .Alfred, born Oct. 15, 1827, who died in New York when a child, and Mary, bom May 18, 1833. He engaged in mercantile business in New York until 1835, when, with his whole family, he removed to the great and growing West, settling in Medina township, of Peoria court ty. where ly lemained until his death. He scrt1«-j on s. w. ^ of Sec. 2. which he hod previously bought, and which was, at that early date, in a state of pristine wildness, and with his boys built a house upon it, and assiduously began its culture and improvement. He died upon the old homestead, August 5, 1878, at the ripe old age of 90, and was buried in the graveyard of St. Joseph's Catholic Church, in Medina township. He was a man who made few enemies and many friends, with a most genial manner, and hadfalways akind word and a helping hand for all in distress. He was universally beloved and respected, and had, at his death, many sincere mourners outside the circle of his relatives. He was, through life, a Catholic, and to his liberality and spirit, the Catholics of the township are mainly indebted for the church building they now possess. He was, in politics, a good and consistent Democrat, and was a member of the last board of county commissioners of Peoria county, prior to the adoption of the township organization. Three of his children still reside in the township. MOO?CEY JAMES, farmer. Sec. 11, P. O. Mossville, was born in New Jersey, Dec. 15, 1814, and is the eldest child of Thomas Mooney, Sr., who came to the township in 1835. He was raised and educated in New York city, and afterwards learned the trade of locksmith, removing with his parents and the other members of his family to Medina township in the year of his majority. He remained at home, working upon his father's farm until February 7, 1838, on which date he married Elizabeth Jenett, daughter of Hugh Jenett and Ann Garland, natives of county Louth, Ireland, who was born in January, 1823, and came to America with her brother when fourteen years old. They have had seven children, six of whom are alive : Thomas, born Nov. 30, 1838, who died when two weeks and three days old ; William A., born Nov. 11, 1840 ; Michael Thoma.s, bom Dec. 31, 1842 ; Geo. Washington, bom Feb. 22, 1845 ; Mary Ann, bom Dec. 17. 1846 ; James F., bom Aug. 27, 1855; Oliver K., born April 11, 1S61. Three of his children are married, and the others reside in family with him. He owns 320 acres of fine farming land, and fifty acres under timber, all well improved ; has filled, in turn, almost all of the township offices, among them that of assessor and collector, and is every inch of him a Democrat. Himself, wife and family are members of St. Joseph's Catholic Church.

MOONEY WILLIAM, farmer. Sec. ii, P.O. Chillicothe ; was born in the city of New York, September l6, 1S24, and is the fourth child in the family of five children, of the late Thomas Mooney, Sr., and Helena Stagg, who were among the earliest settlers in .";c'"i: ; '"vp^hio. AVith them, in 1835, he came West born there June 24, 1831, by wnoc. ue has had seven children, six of whom now survive - Alfred, bom September 7, 1851 ; James Eugene, born August 5, 1S53 ; Thomas William, born May 25. 1856; Maggie EstcUa, born July 22, 1859 ; Richard Francis, born January 21, 1862, and Emma Helena, born April 6, 1S65. At the date of his marriage he removed to his present location where he has ever since resided, and where he owns 340 acres fine prairie land, all under cultivation, and worth $50 an acre. The entire family are members of St. Joseph's Catholic Church in the township.

MOWBRAY RICH^VRD, farmer, Sec. i. P. O. Rome ; was born in Hallock township, Peoria county, April 6, 1S42, and is the son of Thomas Mowbray and Hannah Stagg, who came there from New York in 1833, and taking up a claim, built upon it the cabin in which he was born. His father was a native of New York State and was bom there in February, 1803, and his mother was born in Paterson, N. J. While very young his parents moved to Medina township, and settled on Sec. 2, where they resided for about eighteen years and where he was raised. He married February 11, 1878, Mary Dempsey, daughter of Peter Dempsey and Ann McCormick, who was born in Arkansas, in 1851, by whom he has had one child, which has quite recently died. The home farm consists of 160 acres of land, all under cultivation, two-thirds of which he owns. His father still lives and resides with him. Mr. and Mrs. Mowbray are members of the Catholic Church in their township.

MUELLER WAXDELIX, farmer, Sec. i, P. O. Rome ; was born in Alsace, France, October 30, 1833, and is the son of Anthony and Magdaline MUller, who were both natives of that Province. Came to America with his parents in 1846, landing at New Orleans, came up the river to St. Louis, and afterwards came on to Peoria county, and settled in Medina township, where they bought a farm. He resided at home with his parents until twenty-five years of age, when he married Bridget Mchan, daughter of John Mehan and Mary Jennings, natives of Ireland. His wife came to America in May, 1857, and has borne him seven children, six of them now living - Anthony, born July 8, 1859 ; Mary, born April 3, 1861 ; Joseph, born October 6, 1862 ; James, born March 36, 1864; Valentine, born

NEWTON NEWMON, farmer. Sec. 11. P.O. Mossville ; was born in Susquehanna county. Pa., April 19, 1819. and is the son of Benjamin Newton and Phoebe Stearns, natives of Connecticut, who came to Pennsylvania in the early years of the century. Was raised on the farm there, until sixteen years old, when with his parents and the bulk of the family he came to Illinois, settling in what is now Stark county, in 1836, where he resided for about fifteen years, and there lost both of his parents ; his mother in iSsr. and his father in 1854. He c.ime to Medina township, Peoria county, in 1S4S. and settled on Sec. 9. where he lived for many years and where he married June 29, 1S4S, Cynthia Mark, daughter of Zelotas Mark and Sarah Merrill, natives of New York, who was born October 8, 1832. by whom he has had seven children, six of whom are now alive - Lois, born October 9. 1849; Jennie, born March g, 1851 ; Joseph, born Januar)' 14, 1853, died August 3t, 1855 ; Arba and Ziba, (twins) bom September 14, 1S56 ; John, bom December 30. 1858; Jessie.

born August 2g, 1863, Zelotas Marks, Mrs, Newton's father, died in the township in December, 1S38. His two eldest children are married. He owns 160 acres fine prairie land all under cultivation ; has held the offices of town clerk and collector for one term each.

PRESTON JAMES S. farmer. Sec. 3, P. O. Chillicothe. Was born in Roxbury, Delaware county, N. Y., August 31, 1840, and is the son of Zerah Preston and Angeline Patterson, residents of New York State. He was raised on his father's farm, and in the Fall of 1859 came West to Illinois, and after a short stay in Ogle county, came in November of the same year to Hallock township, where for about eighteen months he worked for Joel Hicks, and shortly afterwards settled on his present farm, where lie has ever since resided. He married, February 16, 1S63, Eliza E. Reed, daughter of Thomas B. Reed and Frances Wilkinson, who was born February 10, 1843. Her father was born November 27, 1799, ^"'l ^^^ mother October 4, 1802; both natives of New York. By this marriage he has had six children, four of whom are now living - Frances Emily, born November 30, 1863; Angeline, born September 3, 1865 ; Mary Effie, born December 4, 1S67 ; Merrit Ebberly, born August 31, l86g, died February 28, 1870; Jennie Ermina, born January 21, 1874, died January 21, 1877, and Bertha, born February 28, 1879. He has 160 acres of land in home farm, part of which is under timber ; is at present school director, and has held that office three years. Mrs. Preston is a member of the Baptist Church. Reed Hiram, farmer. P, O. Chillicothe.

REED MERIT, farmer, P. O. Chillicothe. Was born in Jackson county, Ohio, February 12, 1824, and was the son of Thos. B. Reed and Frances Wilkenson. His father was born November 27, 1799, in Rensselaer county, N. Y.; moved to Ohio with his father about 1819, and was married in Jackson county of that State April 26, 1S21. His mother was born October 4, 1802, in Greenbriar county, N. C. They had seven children, the first a boy, who died in infancy. Merit, whose date of birth is given above ; Amy, born Jan. 9, 1825 ; Harriet, born May 18, 1835; Hiram, born March 20, 1837; Eliza, born Feb. 10, 1843; Electra, born April 21, 1844. Mr. Merit Reed came with his parents to Illinois, arriving in Peoria county after a long and dangerous journey in October, 1829. They passed through both fire and water on their way, and had a narrow escape of destruction by the former element, at the Black Swamps near Bloomington. Their teams got badly swamped, and just then a prairie fire in the tall grass swept down upon them - they lay directly in its path, and were powerless to move - a cotton handkerchief was torn up, rubbed with powder, and fired by a spark struck from the flint of a gun, and a narrow strip burned around their teams and wagons. By this time the head fire burst upon them with great fury, and while the men and women held the horses' heads, the flames lapped together above the wagon covers. After a few perilous moments it rolled on, and the emigrants turned their attention to the watery element, which, mixed with mud, now held them fast. After great exertion the horses were got out, the goods and chattels carried to dry land, and the wagons dragged empty after them, reaching a spot where they could camp for the night, just as it was closing upon them. On coming to the county they lived during the first Winter in a small log house on Simon Reed's place, in what is now Hallock township, and next Spring rented some land from Elijah Hyde, and bought about the same time 160 acres of military land in section 3 of Medina township, to which they moved in the succeeding Spring, and where he resided till his death, March 22, 1875. He lived to amass quite a fortune, being worth about $150,000. His wife died July 5, 1869. Merit Reed resided at home till about the age of twenty-two, and married, Oct. 15, 1S45, Miss Elizabeth McElhany, who was born in Hagerstown, Ohio, May 27, 1S27, who has borne him three children - Frances Parodine, born March 11, 1857 ; Thomas LeRoy, born Apfil 10, 1859, and Hiram Herbert, born February 2, 1862, who died at the age of one year and ten months. Mr. Reed resides on his farm on the northwest quarter of section 2 in Medina township, and also owns the north half of the northeast cjuarter of section

10, and twenty-eight acres on section 10, worth about $50 an acre ; also forty acres of bluff' land on section 4. Rice E. farmer, P. O. Dnnlap.

RICE JONATHAN W. (deceased), farmer, res. Sec. 7, P. O. Dunlap. Was born in Marlboro, Middlesex county, Mass., January 24, l8ll, and was the son of Martin L. and Sally Rice, natives of that place. His father farmed, also carried on a boot and shoe making business, and after leaving school he divided his time until reaching his 25th year between the farm and a woolen factory. In 1837 he came to Illinois, and after a short stay in Quincy, Adams county, removed in the latter part of 183S to Medina township, Peoria county, where he bought a farm on section 7 and began to improve it. He married in January, 1841, Sarah M. Dennis, daughter of Joseph Dennis and Rachael McClelland, natives of Ohio, who was born Jan.

11, 1822, by whom he had two sons, Elisha, born July 21, 1843, and James, born June 16, 1845. In 1S57 he removed to another farm on same section, which is now occupied by his eldest son. During life he filled many township offices, and he died June 24, 1865. His widow still survives and resides on the old homestead.

History Of Peoria Couxtt

His son Elisha was raised at home, and has ever since resided on the farm. He married. December 27. 1866, Elizabeth Stewart, daughter of James and Maria Stewart, who was bom in Newburg, N. Y., Ian. 12, 1843, by whom he has six children - Jonathan W., born April 16. 1869 ; James It., born July 22. 1871 ; Burton, born Jan. 14, 1874 ; Fred., bom March 14. 1876, Florence E., born May 23. 1877. and Sarah E., bom Sept 12, 1879. He enlisted Aug. 27, 1861. inCo. A, 47th I.V. I., forming part of the army of the Mississippi. Took part in the siege at Vicksburg, and all the engagements around that city. His company was the first to enter lackson, Miss.; was mustered out at Springfield, Oct. 6. 1864. He owns 315 acres in home farm, about 175 acres of which is prairie ; is school director, and in politics a Republican. Himself and wife are members of the Presbyterian Church at Dunlap.

KOHIXSOX WILLIAM, farmer. Sec. 27, P. O. .Mcssvillc. was born in Jefferson county, Va., Nov. 27, 1805, and is the son of George Robinson and Nancy Rice, natives of Pennsylvania, both of whom are now deceased. He came to Ohio with his parents when very young, and was principally raised in Ch.impaign county. His folks were farmers, and he worked on the home farm till 1826, when he came to Illinois and after a short stay returned to Ohio, and after working some years for himself, married, in 1S33, Catherine Wcidman, daughter of Abraham and Catherine W'eidman, natives of Pennsylvania, who was born in that State, Nov. 23, 1810, by whom he had seven children, all but one now living. Those alive are Sarah A., born -Sept. 25, 1834; John W., born March 23, 1836; Marion N., bom April 23, 1839; Abram W., born Oct. 19, 1841; Joseph V. H., born Feb. 16. 1844, and Mary L., born April 8, 1846. In the Fall of 1836, he returned to lUinois, settling for about a year near the site of Peoria city, and in the following Summer came to Medina township, and farmed on rented land in Sec. 22, for about ten years, and then bought his present farm. He owns 140 acres in home farm, and 136 acres in the township besides ; also eighty acres in Radnor township, and worth $35 an acre clear through. His wife died March 18, 1850, on the old homestead. He was for one year supervisor of the township, and for many years a school director. His second and third sons were in the Union army, and served until the close of the war. His youngest son and his f.imily reside with him. This son married Jan. 18. 1872. Cicorgina Clifton, daughter of Enos Clifton and Sarah Stringer, natives of Ohio, who was bom Dec. 3, 1844, by whom he has had four children, two now living - Cora Naomi, bom March 3. 1873. died March 31, 1877; Aaron Ensley, bom May

SCHAFFXEK HEXKY (deceased), widow resides -Sec. 10, P. O. Mossville, was bora Jan. 3. 1830, in Lompertsloch, Alsace. France, and is the son of Jacob and Dorothy SchafTner. who were natives of that province. When sixteen years old he came to America with his elder sister, and during the nine succeeding years resided in Lyons, Wayne county, N. Y., and while there married Dec. 20. 1855. Catherine Feiock, a native of Germany, who was born Oct. 24. 1833, and came to this country with her father when twenty years of age. The fruits of this union were two children - George, bom May 21, 1S5S, and Edward, bora March 22, 1864. Immediately after marriage they removed to Illinois, settled in Medina tow^nship, Peoria county, and resided for about nine years on Sec. 8, removing in 1865 to the farm now occupied by Mrs. Schaffner and her two sons. They own forty acres of land, all under cultivation, and which they value, with existing improvements, at $3,200. Mr. Schaffner died on hit homestead, Aug. i. 1874. He was an industrious, hard working man, who enjoyed the confidence and respect of all his neighbors, was a thorough farmer, a good citizen, and a kind husband and father. Scbairner Catharine, farmer. P. O. MossTlUe.

SCOVILL LIN AS. farmer. Sec. 22, P.O. Mossville, was bom in Ontario Co.. N. Y.. March 10, 1815, and is the son of Linas Scovill. a native of Connecticut born July 13. 1786, and Elizabeth Seeley. born in Holster. N. Y., May 15. 1791. ANTien two years old hit parents moved to Dearborn Co., Ind., where they farmed for two or three years, afterwards removing to Switzerland Co., in the same State, and after a residence of seven years there, again moved to Vermillion Co., Ind., where they resided for four years, and finally in the Summer of 1831, the whole family removed to Illinois, settling upon what is now Sec. 22, of Medina township. His father died on the old homestead November 16, 1840, and his mother in Chillicothe Oct. 13,1862. The farm originally entered upon at that early day, is still in the possession of Mr. Scovill, and he has never been out of the county for over six weeks at a time since he first came to it. He married, June 17, 1858, Miss V. A. Murray, daughter of John Murray and Cynthia Johnson, natives of Virginia, who was liom in Winchester. Frederick Co., Va., June 19, 1812. Mr. Scovill was the eldest in a family of seven children. After him came Luney. l>orn May 4. 1818; Lucetta, born June 20, 1820; Lucina, bom March 30. l8a2, Amanda F.. born July a, 1826; Sarah, born Dec. 25, 1831, and Jube F., born Jan. 6, 1824, who died in Kansas, May 18, 1874. Mr. Scovill owns 320 acres of land in home farm, about l6o of it under timber. Is politically a Democrat, and in religious matters a Free Thinker. He has assessed the township, and for 6ve years been its collector. Has been commissioner of roads for thirteen successive years, and has also filled the offices of school trustee and director.

STURM ALBERT, farmer, Sec. 9, P. O. Mossville. was born in Medina township of Peoria Co., in 1S51, and is the son of John Sturm and Elizabeth Dickinson. His father was born in Ohio, and his mother in Indiana, and both now reside in Medina township. They had seven children, and he is the fourth in a family of five sons and two daughters. He married, February, 1S75, Nancy Buttles who was born in Switzerland Co.,Ind., in 1849. Her mother still lives there, but her father died a number of years ago. Mr. Sturm settled on his present farm four years ago. It consists of 100 acres fine farming land, valued at $50 per acre.

STURM GEORGE,, farmer, Sec. 16, V. O. Mossville, was born in Medina township, of Peoria Co., Oct. 2, 1833, and is the son of Nicholas -Sturm and Rebecca Fey, who came to Illinois from Ohio. Is the youngest in a family of seven children, and when very young his mother died, and his father re-married. He was raised in Medina township, from a boy by his uncle Lewis Fey, and resided with him till his death about 1853, receiving from his estate the farm he now occupies. He married Jan. 4, 1S55, Louisa B. Joseph, daughter of Nathan Joseph, a native of Delaware, who was born in 1S37, by whom he had one child, Jacob Lewis, born Jan. 10 1856. Mrs. Sturm died soon after the boy was born, and on Feb. 8, 1858, he married Mrs. Emma Grabbe, daughter of Green J. Haralson and Orpha Farris, who was born in Maysville, 111., Sept. I, 1839. Her mother was from Kentucky, and her father, was born in France, and was raised and educated in New York. By this marriage he has had five children, three now living, John C, born Nov. I 8, 1S5S; George Edward, born March 1S60, died when about seven weeks old, Henry B., born August, 1861, Robert Bruce, born May iS, 1866, and Joseph C, born March 23, 1S6S. He owns 220 acres land, more than half of which is under timber.

Sturm Frank, farmer. I*. (>. Mossvllle. Sturm .lohn, farmer. P. (>. Mossville. Sturm Mark, farmer. P. (>. Mossville. Tliumpsou \V. 11. laborer, res. Mossvllle.

THORNE WILLIAM, carpenter and bridge builder, P. O. Mossville, was born in North Molton, Devonshire, England, 17th Sept., iSig. John Thorne and Charity Craig were his parents ; the latter died when he was three years old, and his father some fifteen years ago. Mr. Thorne learned the carpenter's trade in his native shire, and married Deborah Passmore, of South Molton. She was born May 24, 1819 - on the same day as Queen Victoria. Mr. T. came to America in May 1S56, and after stopping six weeks in Canada, came to Peoria county. The following year he sent for his family and settled on Orange Prairie for six years, mnd then removed to their present home. They have had ten children, the two oldest. Charity and John, being dead. John died in the U. S. army, at Vicksburg. The living are : William, aged 37 years ; Mary, now Mrs. Kingdon, 34; George, 31 ; Ann, Mrs. Harker, 29 ; Richard, 26; Edwin, 24 years old ; all born in England. Frank, 20, and John, 11 years of -ige, were born in Peoria county. Mr. Thorne has devoted his attention to house carpentering and bridge building, and has achieved the reputation of being the best bridge builder in the county. He has served three terms as assessor of Medina township, and several terms as justice of the peace. He has crossed the Atlantic five times, having made two visits to his native country since he first came over.

ABY G. H. farmer. Sec. 6, P.O. Elmore. Was born in Rochester, Peoria county, in 1851 ; is the youngest child of Benjamin J. Aby, who died in 1866, and who came to Peoria county at a very early day, there experiencing all the hardships of a pioneer's life. Mr. G. H. Aby has remained on the home farm with his mother and sister, and is an industrious and enterprising young farmer. Owns no acres of land, worth about $4,400, and has eighty acres under good cultivation.

ADA3IS W. H. farmer. Sec. iS, P. O. Elmore. Was bom in Holmes county, O., .\ug. 30, 1835. Came to Illinois in 1852, settling in Stark county, and engaged in farming till 186 1, when he removed to Peoria county and his present location. Represented the township in the Board of Supervisors one year, and has been justice of the peace for four years. Is a man of enterprise and intelligence, and has always taken an active part in township, county, and State affairs. Married, in 185S. Miss Sarah J. Anthony, who was born in New Jersey in 1837. by whom he has four children, two boys and two girls. Owns 126 acres of land, worth about $5,000, all under cultivation. He has studied law, and was admitted to the bar in 1867.

BARKKTT GEO. W. farmer. Sec. 22, P. O. Monica. Was born in Jefferson county, O., in 1835, and came to Peoria county in 1859. In 1861 married Miss Lavina J. Ramsey, who was bom in Jefferson county, O., in 1836, and who has borne him eleven children, seven of whom are now living, four boys and three girls. Mr. Barrett came to Sec. 22 in 1S67, and owns in it 240 acres of land, all well cultivated and improved, worth about $12,000. Coming here poor, he has by hard work and economy acquired a competency for himself and family. He is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

BRinSON JOIIX, farmer, Sec. 27, P.O. Brimfield. Was born on the Ulc of Man. in 1820. Immigrated to America, settling in Drimfield township, in l85l,and remained there till 1857, when he removed to his present home. Has been very successful in all hit undcitakingt. Coming to this country poor, he now owns 340 acrei of land, worth $17,300, ate acres of which are now under cultivation. He was married in the old country to Miss Ann Gilliog, in 1851, who was bora on the Isle of Man in 1628, and who bore him three children. She died in 1857, and in ihe following year he married Miss Manilla Kunler, who was born in Indiana in 1832. by whom he has had seven children.

C-VMPBELL JOHN W. farmer. Sec. 23. P. O. Monica, is the son of Gilbert and Mary Campbell, who were married in 1795, and were early settlers in Boone county, Kentucky. His father was the grandson of Lord Overton, a Scotch peer. The subject of this sketch was born in Boone county, Kentucky, Dec. 18, l8l2. Married July 6, 1S37, at Rushville. 111., while on a visit there. Miss Margaret M. Dooley, aflerwaidt returning to Kentucky, where he remained six years; thence removed, in 1S44. to Preble county, Ohio, where he resided ten years, and then came to his present location, where he owns 257 acres of land, worth $13,000. Has 200 acres of his land under cultivation, and his farm is altogether well improved. Mrs. Campbell is a native of Kentucky, and was bom in i8ia; has had seven children, five boys and two girls, but lost by death two ol their boys, David and Samuel, Oct. 3, 1862. Carahan B. farmer, P. O. Brlrofleld.

C-VKTEK KOBEKT P. farmer. Sec. ai, P. O. Millbrook, was born in Ireland in 1823, and ia the early part of his life was engaged in the African ivory trade, in the pursuit of which he has traveled over a large part of Eastern .Africa. Came to Peoria county in 1850. and to his present home in 1866. Owns 240 acres of well cnltivated land, worth about $14,400. He married, in 1850, Miss Nancy Ijirgee, by whom he has h-id seven children, six of whom are now living. He had the misfortune to lose one of them, a boy nineteen years of age, some years ago, by drowning.

COLE JOHX, druggist and dealer in agricultural implements, P. O. Elmore, was born in Peoria county in 1847. Was raised on a farm, and has resided in the vicinity of Rochester all his life. Received a good common school education, and afterwards attended Cole's Commercial College, in Peoria. In 1870 b( married Miss Mary R. Smith, who was born in Stark county in 1S51, by whom he has had two children, both girls, one of whom is now living. In the year of his marriage he began business as druggist, and has of late years done quite a large business in agricultural implements, carrying a good stock in both lines. On March 3, 1865, he enlisted in Co. K., 47th (Consol.) 111. Inf., and was mustered at Demopolis, Ala., Jan. 21. iS66. Cole Lydia .\. farmer. P. O. Elmore.

COLE WILLIAM F, farmer. Sec. 30, P. O. French Grove, was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., in iSiS, and came to Illinois with his parents, settling in what is now Hardin county in the same year. He remained there until 1844, when he came to Peoria county and settled at French Grove, where in 1846 he married Miss Mary Ann Cutter, who was born in Richland county, Ohio, in 1S29. Her parents were among the early settlers in the western part of Peoria county, since they settled on Sec. 6 of Brimfield township in 1S33, and bnilt themselves a cabin there, when there was but one house from thence to Farmington, in Fulton county. There were no roads, and they had to go to Lewiston to get their milling done, the trip there and back taking a week. Mr. and Mrs. Cole have by industry and economy acquired a good home, and many comforts that were undreamed of in the early pioneer days. They came here in 1856, and own 120 acres of land, all under good cultivation. Have had thirteen children, nine boys and four girls, and have eleven children living. Mr. and Mrs. Cole are living at their present home surrounded by friends, and are much respec'.ed by all who know them. Colwell \v. farmer. P. O. Monica.

COON GEORGE J, farmer. Sec. 13, P. O. Monica, was born in New York State in 1839, where he resided till 1850, when he came to Peoria county, settling in Rosefield township ; came to his present location-in 1874. In 1861 married Miss Jane Aldredge, from Indiana, by whom he had two children. She died in 1872, and in 1874 he married Patience Garrison, his present wife. They own 140 acres of land, all of which is under cultivation and worth about $7,000. Mr. Coon's father is at present a resident of Rosefield township ; he bought raw land, which he afterwards improved and sold. Mr. Coon enlisted in 1862, in Co. K, 83d I. V. I. and was mustered out the same year.

CRAVENS SYLVESTER, M.D., P. O. Elmore, was born in Westmoreland county, Penn., in in 1836, and came to Peoria county in 1858. Began the study of medicine in 1855, and in '59 and '60 attended lectures at Cleveland Medical College; and in Cincinnati, at the Medical College there, attended the classes in '60 and '61. Graduating in the latter year, he returned to Rochester and began to build up a practice which is now a large one. In 1S64 he married Miss Chloe Stanton, who was born in Peoria county and was the daughter of one of the earliest settlers of Rochester. Dr. Cravens owns 400 acres of land, 250 acres of which are under cultivation, worth altogether, $io,ocx).

CUTTER JOB, farmer. Sec. 30, P. O. French Grove, was born in Sec. 6, P.rimfield township, on April 19, 1837. Is the third son of Isaac and Sarah Cutter, who settled in that township in 1833 and made a small farm, when the country around was a wilderness. Both his parents died in the old homestead. Mr. Cutter, in 1S64, married Miss M. Flakerty.who wasbornin Maine in 1840. They have had six children, five of whom are now living. They came to their present home in 1866 ; own eighty acres of land, all improved, worth about S4,8oo. Mr. Cutter is a quiet, unassuming man, who is liked and respected by all who know him.

DAVIS RICHARD C. farmer. Sec. 31, P.O. French Grove, was born in Ohio county, W. Va., in 1835 ; came to Peoria county in 1S56, and two years afterwards married Miss Margaret Keyser, who was born in Belmont county, Ohio, in 1S34. They have had eight children, and all of them are living. Came to his present home in l86g, where he has ever since lived ; owns 160 acres of well improved land, worth about $9,600. Has been road commissioner for the township of Brimfield, and is now serving that of Millbrook in the same capacity. Mr. Davis and his wife are members of the Presbyterian Church.

DIM3IICK 3IILTON, farmer. Sec. 19, P. O. Elmore, was born in Ohio in 1S40; came to Illinois in 1852, and to Peoria county in 1858. Owns 140 acres of land, all well improved. Married, in 1864, Miss Lavina Green, who was born in 1843, and has borne him six children, two of whom are dead. Mr. Dimmick is a quiet, frugal and industrious man, and is much respected. Doddswtirth Wm. f.irmer. P. O. Elmore.

DOYLE JOHN, M.D., P.O. Elmore, was born in Baltimore county, Md., in 1827, and ten years later he came to and settled in Clark county, 111. In 1850 he began the study of medicine, graduating in the Eclectic Medical Institute at Cincinnati in 1854. and in the same year began to practice. In 1858 he married Miss Sarah A. Noyes, who was born in New Hampshire in 1835. Dr. Doyle settled in Rochester in 1S55, and with the exception of one year in Stark county and three years in Cincinnati, has resided there ever since, and practiced his profession. He has taken great interest in the Christian Church, he being one of the elders and the minister of the church. Ennls N. S. farmer, P. O. Monica.

1844, and came to Peoria county with his parents in 1856, settling in Millbrook township, where he has ever since remained. He is the second son of Lemuel Garrison who died in this township. Mr. Garrison married in 1875, Miss Mary B. Owens, who was bom in Knox county in i860, by whom he has had two children. He owns eighty acres of well cultivated lanil, worth about $4,000. Garrison l>eniurl, farmer. I*, o. Monica.

GARRISON LKWIS, farmer, .Sec. 16, I'. O. Elmore was born in Clinton, O., in 1S37 ; came to Peoria county in 1855, settling on section 15; is the first son of Lemuel Garrison, who died in this township in 1873, and was the father of eighteen children. Mr. Garrison married in 1861, Miss Matilda A. Aldrcdge, who was born in Knox county, in 1838, and who bore him eleven children, of whom ten are now living - seven boys and three girls. Owns 220 acres of land, worth about $11,100. of which, 170 acres are under good cultivation. Mr. Garrison has seen m^y improvements made in this section, very little having been done in that way at the time he settled here. Garrison Kobert. farmer. P. O. Monica.

GARRISON THOMAS B. farmer. Sec. 15, P. O. Elmore, was born in Clinton county, O.. in 1850, and came to Peoria county with his parents, settling in the township of Millbrook, where he has since remained. He married in 1S72, Miss Rebecca J, Camp, who was born in Clinton county, O., in 1854, and by whom he has had four children, three now living, lie owns 200 acres of land, worth about :^io,ooo, and has 180 acres under good cultivation. Mr. Garrison is a young man of good habits ; is industrious and economical, and stands well in the neighborhood in which he lives. He is the only son of Robert Garrison. Glllcn James, farmer, H. O. Krencli Grove.

county and settled on his present home in section 16, where he has 230 acres of good land, worth about $11,500. of which iSo acres are under cultivation. This properly is the result of industry and economy, as Mr. Hardy came to this country a poor man. He has had twelve children, six of whom are now living. Ilarrliill William, farmer, P. U. Prench Grove.

IIOI.Z WILLIAM, miller. P. O. Elmwood. was born in Prussia in I S32, and immigrated to America in 1851 ; came to Rochester, HI., in 18O4. moving thence in 1866, to Elmwood. where he purchased the Union Mills, and where he has spent upwards of $40,- 000 in building, repairing, and machinery. In 1875, he lost his mill in Elmwood by fire, when he returned to Rochester and commenced repairing the Rochester mills ; has spent $13,000 in this direction and has now got it in first-class order; has three runs of burrs and the machinery is all new. Mr. Holzhas eighty acres of good land attached to the mill and raises considerable stock ; married in 1858, Miss Catherine Schroeder, by whom he has six children.

HIRER BENJAMIN, retired, P. O. Elmore, was born in Pennsylvania in 1S20. and married in 1843 Miss Rebecca Burkhart, who was born in that State in 1825 ; came to Peoria county and settled in Rochester in 1849, where he engaged in blacksmithing, and kept at it for twenty-four years. They are the parents of nine children, live of them being now alive. Coming to Rochester with limited means. Mr. Huber has by economy and strict attention to business, acquired a good home, with no .-icres of well cultivated land, worth about $5,500, where he and his wife hope to spend their remaining years. His children are all married. Mr. and Mrs. Huber are members of the Congregational Church. Hurt 8us.-in, farmer, P. O. Monica.

IREL.VXI) CHARLES, stock dealer, P. O. Elmore, was born in Fayette, Seneca county, N.Y. His grandfather w.ts the first settler in the township.locating in 1794; also organ iied the first independent military company of that county ; was at the battle of ijueenstown when Brock was killed. His father was bom in Milton county. Pa., but went to Seneca county; N. Y., when he was two years old ; raised a family of two children, one of each sex. Charles, was bom on the aoth day of .\ugust, 1823. When he was nine years old his father immigrated to Geauga county, Ohio, where he was reared a farmer, going two miles through the womls to a log house to school. Helped to clear farm of 260 acres. In 184$ married Miss Laura Ann, d.iugliter of Harry Hubbard. .She was born in Massachusetts on the :7th day of February, 1S30. Six boys and five girls was the fruit of their union. Immigrated from Ohio to Peoria county in 1S58, and located in Millbrook township. The first two years was engaged in building and contracting on railroads. Furnished all the ties, and erected the bridges, from Oilman to the State line. In 1863 helped to recruit a company, and was assigned to the 77th I. V. I., Company G, and was commissioned as ist Lieutenant, mustered in at Peoria. The regiment was commanded by Col. Grier. Participated in the engagement at Arkansas Post, and afterwards did duty on the river. He resigned on account of ill health after being in the service a year. Jaques Henry, farmer, P. O. Elmore.

JAQUES H. S. farmer. Sec. 7. P. O. Elmore, was born in Ohio in 1839, came to Peoria county in 1855, and has resided in Millbrook township ever since. In 1862 he crossed the plains to California, returning in 1S64, and shortly thereafter married Miss Emeline Pratz, by whom he has two children. He is an enterprising farmer and a man of influence in the township, owning 500 acres of land, 200 of which are under good cultivation, worth about $21,000. besides a large stock of cattle arid hogs, the raising of which he makes a specialty.

JAQUES JOSIAH, farmer. Sec. 18, P. O. Elmore, was born in Richland county, O., in 1829 ; came to Peoria county in 1S54, and settled on section i8, in Millbrook township, where he has ever since remained and where he owns 500 acres of land, worth about $20,000. In 1856 he married Miss Isabell Pratz, who was born in the same county as himself. They have been blessed with eleven children, seven now living. Mr. Jaques has improved most of his property since coming here ; is a quiet, industrious farmer, and is much respected. Mrs. Jaques is a member of the Christian Church, at Rochester. Kau3 J. farmer, P. O. Elmore.

LENG ALBERT, farmer. Sec. 9, P. O. Elmore, was born in Yorkshire, England in 1841, and came to Peoria county in 1870. Married, in 1873, Miss Mary F. Aby, who was born in Stark county, in 1851; has had three children, two of them now alive.

Mr. Leng has followed the occupation of a farmer all his lifetime, both in England and this country, and now owns a nice little farm of eighty acres, worth about $4,000, and has fifty acres under cultivation. Lewis Hannah, farmer. P. O. Elmore.

LOKANCE HARNESS, farmer. Sec. 19, P. O. Elmore, was born in Franklin county, Ohio in 1823, and came to Peoria county in 1S43, marrying in the following year Miss Ellen Lewis, who was born in Dearborn county, Ind. in 1826. They are the parents of twelve children, ten of them survive. Mr. Lorance first settled on Sec. 6 of Millbrook township, where he remained eight years, removing thence to Sec. 19, where he has ever since remained. He owns 165 acres of land, all well improved, and worth $8,250 ; a vein of coal, five feet thick, underlies part of his land. Has a very fine spring well on his farm, yielding an inexhaustible supply of water. Mr. Lorance is much respected in the neighborhood in which he resides. Lyon Joseph, farmer, P. O. French Grove.

3IARKLEY E. justice of the peace, P. O. Elmore, is the son of David Markley, who came from Ohio and settled in Fulton county in 1836, Mr. E. Markley was born in Richland county, Ohio in 1820, coming with his parents to Illinois, and in 1837 came to Rochester with a stock of goods, which he took charge of and sold on his father's account, making a monthly trip on horseback by a bridle path to his father's residence in Fulton county, to give a report of the month's business. This continued for about a year when he cleared out the stock and returned to Fulton county, and engaged in various pursuits until 1850, when he returned to Rochester and began business on his own account. He has been an active business man and is a prominent citizen of the town. He married in 1S51, Miss Emily Wycofl", who was born in New Jersey in 1S2S, by whom he had five children. Mrs. Markley died Feb. 25, 1861, and in the succeeding year he married, his second wife, Mrs. Nancy Rice, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1S28, and who has also borne him five children, all living. Mr. Markley owns eighty acres of land, all under cultivation, and worth about $2,400; has been supervisor one year, and is now serving his second year as justice of the peace.

aiARKLEY EVERETT, merchant, P. O. Elmore, was born in Stark county. 111. in 1855, and has lived for many years in the neighborhood of Rochester. Married in 1S7S, Miss Helen M.Webster, who was born in Ohio in 1S44. Began business for himself as merchant in 1878, but had previously been in that business for his lather and others ever since he was old enough to attend to it ; carries a large and well selected stock of goods, and does a good business. His father was the second man who sold goods in Rochester, that being in the year 1837.

MARTZ W. J. farmer. Sec. 32, P. O. French Grove, was bom in Pennsylvania in 1834, and came to Peoria county in l8;7, and is a harness maker by trade. Married in 1863, Mi>s Nancy E. Moore, who was bom in Butler county. Ohio in 1 844. They have had six children, three of them now alive. Mr. Martz bought his present home in 1866, and is now worth $4,800. His wife is a member of the Presbyterian Church. Mathews Thos. farmer. I*. O. Monica.

MeCOY DAXIEL, farmer, Sec. 33, P. O. French Grove, was born in West Alexander, Washington county. Pa., and when fourteen years old, moved to Ohio county, W. Va., where he remained till 1851, then coming to Peoria county, and settling on Sec. 33, where he has since remained, and where he owns 470 acres of land, all under cultivation, 2IO acres of which forms his home farm. Mr. McCoy married.June 21, 1847, Miss Jane B. Stewart, who w.is born in Alleghany county. Pa., August 8, 1S26, and who died November 26, 1877, leaving four children to mourn her loss. Mr. McCoy is a member of the Presbyterian Church.

McCOY JOHN A. (deceased), late of Sec. 32, Millbrook township, P. O. French Grove, was born in Washington county, Pa., in 1821 ; was brought up in Ohio county, W. Va., and came to Peoria county in 1849, settling two miles west of Brimfield. He came to his late fine home in lS;2, and remained upon it until his death. His estate consists of S90 acres of fine improved farming land. Mr. McCoy married in W. Virginia in 1852, Miss Matilda Davis, who was born in Marshall county, of that State, in 1829, by whom he had three children, two girls and one boy and who died in 1S61. Mr. McCoy possessed an intellect much above mediocrity, and was emphatically a public-spirited man. These qualities, together with rare integrity of character, made him sought after fur positions of official responsibility. He served his township seventeen years in the County Itoard of Supervisors, seven of which he was chairman of that body, during which the present elegant court house was erected. His innate patriotism impelled him to active and eflicient efforts in behalf uf the Union during the late civil war. The life of Mr. McCoy was suddenly and tragically terminated on the I4tli of September, 1879, from woundi inllicted two or three days previously by a vicious bull. Thus was cut off in tlic midst of his usefulness at the age of fifty-nine years, and ten months a man whom Peoria county greatly misxed and sadly niiiurned.

MOOIll': 1>.\VII>, farmer,Scc. 3a. P.O. French Grove, was l>urn in l.chigh county. Pa., in 1816: went tu Uutlcr county, (J., in l3l8, where he learned the

PR.VTZ WILLLVM W. farmer. Sec. 20, P O. French Grove, was born in Stark county. 111., March 21, 1841 ; his parents were old settlers of that county, having come there in 1837. Mr. Pratz came to Peoria county, where he married Miss Mary E. Day. daughter of Dr. Wm. B. Day, a native of New Jersey, in the following year. She was born Nov. 20, 1842, and has had six children, two boys and four girls. They own 80 acres of land in the e. ^-i of the s. w. ^ of Sec. ao, all under cultivation and worth $4,800, and have the respect of all who know them. Prior CalTin, farmer, P. U. Monica.

REED C. A. farmer. Sec. 29, P. O. French Grove, is the eldest son of William and Sarah V. Reef), was bom in Peoria county, Nov. 20, 1853, and grew to manhood on a farm. On Feb. 3, 1S75, he married Miss Jennie Coe, who was born in Meiggs county, O.. May 10, 1S55 ; they have h.id three children, two of whom are alive. They own sixty acres from the north side of the n. w. X of Sec. 29, all of it under cultivation and worth about $3,600. Mr. Reed is an industrious and economical man, and he and his family are respected by all who know them. They are members of the Presbyterian Church at French Grove.

REEI> J.\MES C. farmer, .^ec. 29. -' O. French (.irovc. was born in Peoria county in 1854, and married in 1875. Miss Sadie G. Oakes, who was l>om in Pennsylvania in 1856; have had two children, the eldest of whom died April 12, 1877. Mr. Reed owns 80 acres of well cultivated land, worth about $4.8oo- Both himself and wife ate members of the Presbyterian - hurch.

Milbkook Directory

French Grove, was born in Ohio county, W. Va., in 1821 ; came to Peoria county in 1852, and settled where he now resides ; owns 73 acres of land in Brimfield township, and 61 acres in Sec. 32 in that of Millbrook, all under thorough cultivation. He is a good farmer and citizen, and a quiet, unassuming man, enjoying the confidence and respect of all who know him. lie married in 1852, Miss Jane Davis, who was born in Marshall county, W. Va., in 1825, by whom he had two children. Mrs. Reed died in 1S56, and in 1859 he married Miss Margaret McCoskey, who was born in Ohio county, W. Va., in 1832 ; they have one child, and are all members of the Presbyterian Church.

REED WILLIAM, farmer. Sec. 34, P. O. French Grove, was born in Ohio county, W. Va., in 1S17; came to Peoria county in 1849, settling on Sec. 33, and has remained in the township ever since ; moved to Sec. 21, and came to his present home in 1S60, where he owns 160 acres of good land, and makes a specialty of raising stock. Married in 1851, Miss Sarah V. McConnell, who was born in Washington county. Pa., in 1S32, by whom he has had four boys, all of whom are now living.

REED WILLIAM, farmer. Sec. 3, P. O. Elmore, was born in Delaware county, O., in 1S37 ; came to Peoria county in 1856, and settled on Millbrook township in 1S63. where he now owns 150 acres of land, 80 acres of which is under cultivation and worth $45 an acre. He has made many improvements, aud has eighteen miles of worm rail fence, which makes his farm a desirable one. In 185S he married Miss Mary Gingrick, who was born in Ashland county, O., in 1842, and who has borne him eight children, six of whom are now living. Mr. Reed has always taken an active part in all township matters, is a hard working, economical farmer, and a much respected citizen.

SLOCUM JOHX C. farmer. Sec. 32. P. O, French Grove, was born in 1837, on the old homestead settled by his father, who was one of the first settlers in this vicinity, and who died in 1846. He married Miss Margaret Bailey, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1842, by whom he has had six children, all living. Owns 115 acres of land, 100 of which are under cultivation, and worth $6,950. He is a quiet, much respected man, and a good citizen.

SLYGH JOHN D. justice of the peace, P. O. Elmore, was born in Ireland in iSoi, and came with his parents to Albany, N. V., where he remained until ten years of age, when he removed to Virginia, where in 1824 he married Miss Mary E. Potts, daughter of Capt. James B. Potis of the United Slates Navy, and who was born on board of a United States ship in 1S08. Remained in Virginia till 1S35, when they came to Tazewell Co., 111., removing to Millbrook township and settling near Rochester, January i, 1837. There were then but two log cabins in Rochester, occupied respectively by the Smiths and the Stanlons. Consequenty Mr. Slygh has seen the development of all the improvements made in this section of country. He has been an active man of business all his life, and is now serving his thirtieth year as justice of the peace, five years of which was in Knox Co., and the rest in Peoria Co ; lives presently with his son Henry, and gives general satisfaction as a justice. Mr. and Mrs. Slygh have had fifteen children, nine of whom are now living. Mrs. Slygh died on August 26, 1875. The old gentleman owns seventy acres of land near Rochester, worth about $2,100. He assessed the township for seven years, for five years in succession.

WHITTAKER JOHX C. farmer. Sec. 27, P. O. Brimfield, was born in Ireland in iSll, where he married Miss Susan Carter, also a native of that country, and who was born in 1806, Sailed lor New Orleans from Liverpool in 1845, and were eight weeks and five days on the voyage. First settled in the county in the vicinity of what was then Fort Clark. M r. Whittaker worked very hard, and labored under many disadvantages, and as the result of his industry, lias now a fine home and farm, under good improvement, where he lives at peace with all his neighbors. Mr. and Mrs. Whittaker have had six children, all living. Have four sons in Millbrook township, and one son and their only daughter in that of Brimfield.

WHITTAICER RICHARD, farmer. Sec. 34, P. O. Brimfield, was born in Ireland in 1S36, came to Peoria Co. in 1845, and to his present home in 1S64, where he owns 160 acres of well improved land worth $9,600. Married in 1863 Miss Hannah McGowanner, by whom he has had nine children, eight of wliom are now alive. Mr. Whittaker is much respected and lives surrounded by relatives and friends.

WASSON JOHX, farmer. Sec. 14, P. O. Brimfield, was born in Cayuga county, N. V., in 1833, came to Marshall county. 111., in 1852, where he remained one year, and then removed to Elmwood, Peoria county, where, on Nov. 13, 1854, he married Betsy C. Aldrich, who was born in Missouri in 1836. Has had eleven children, ten now living. .Mr. Wasson came to Sec. 14 of Millbrook township in 1S68, where he owns 160 acres of land, all well improved and worth abouf $3,O30. He has resided in this county since 1S53, in Elmwood, Rrimfield, Jubilee and Millbrook townshipi : has held the office of road commissioner for three years, and is at present one of the school trustees.

WHITE JOHN', farmer, Sec. 5, P.O. Elmore, was bom in Frederick county, Md., Aug. 9, 1812, and came to Richland county, O., in Oct., 1827, where he remained till 1835, when he came to Peoria county with the .Smith family, who settled on Sec. 7 of Millbrook township, Oct. 15, 1835. He helped them to build their cabin, and worked out in the neighborhood for three years, and then began an improvement for himself. Bought from the government the west half of the south west of .Sec. 5 ; made his entry Jan. 13, 1836: commenced his improvement in 1839, and has ever since remained in the same section. The first election Mr. White attended was at Princeville, in 1S36, when Theragood Smith was elected justice of the peace. In 183S he married Miss Eliza A. Kigou, who was bom in Ohio in 1820, by whom he had four children, only one now living. Mis wife died in Aug., 1846, and on Feb. 17, 184S, he married .Miss Permelia Aby, who bore him two children, one of whom has since died. His second wife died Feb. iS, 1S51, and he then married Miss Eliza Briggs, on April 20, 1 854, the fruit of which marriage was nine children, six of whom survive. Mr. White owns 200 acres of land, worth about |!6,ooo, and has 90 acres of it under cultivation.

WHITTAKKB KOBEKT, farmer. Sec. 27. P.O. lirinificlil, was born in Ireland in 1S36, and came to Peoria county in 1840 and settled in his present loc-ition in l8j6. In 1864 he married Miss Frances l!urnell, who was born in Peoria county in 1S47, and has borne him four children. Owns 165 acres of well improved and cultivated land, worth $9,900.

WILI.KTT <>. I*, farmer. Sec. 20, P.O. Elmore, was born in W.iync county, Ind., in 1821, where he was bred a farmer, and came to I'eoria county in l8s6, settling on Sec 30. which has ever lince been hit home. Married, in 1643, Miss Margaret Nelson, of Fayette county, Ind., who was born in 1S24. Has had six children, three of them being now alive. Mr. \Vil. lett owns iSo acres of land, worth $9,400. 160 acres of which are under cultivation. He is a good fanner and an esteemed citizen ; has held the ofiice of township commissioner for several years, and has also been assessor and school trustee.

WINX'HESTEIt GEO. E. merchant. P. O. Elmore, was bom in Clinton county, Penn., in 1853, and came to Peoria county in 186S. Married, ten years later. Miss Emma L. Winchester, who was bom in this county in i860. Mr. Winchester has been in mercantile business for many years, and has in stock at his present location a large and varied assortment of general merchandise. Wiiinf liuxh, farmer, H. o. Brimncld.

WYCOFFE AAltON D. (deceased), res. of widow. Sec. 30, P. O. French Grove. Mr. W. was born in New Jersey in 1S20, and in 1836 came with his parents to Peoria county, settling in Millbrook township. They were among the first settlers there, and the county was in a totally unimproved slate at the tine of their coming. Mr. Wycoffe, on Dec. 9. l555. married Mrs. Harriet Dye, who was born in Warren county, N. J., in 1820, by whom he had two daughters, twins, bom Oct. 30, 1S56. He died Aug. 9, 1871. Was a quiet, unassuming man, a good, reputable citizen, and was much respected by those he was brought in contact with. Previous to her marriage with Mr. Wycoffe, his surviving partner was married, on Oct. 30, 1838, to Dr. Wm. B. Dye, to whom she bore five children, two of whom are now living. Dr. Dye died May 23, 1849, and three years later his widow came to Peoria county, and now resides with her two daughters at their pleasant home on Sec. 20, where she owns l»o acres of well cultivated land, worth about $6,000. Mr». WyconTe is a member of the (."hristian Church.