Middlefork Township (part 2 of 2)

David P. Layton, Potomac, farmer and stock-raiser, section 19, was born in New York on the 16th of October, 1829, and spent his early life assisting his father on the farm. He lived in Ohio one year, and then removed to Indiana, where he remained nine years. He then came to Illinois, settling in Vermilion county, and here he has re- mained since. He was married in Indiana, in 1S59, to Martha Wilson, who was born in Lancaster count}7, Pennsylvania, in 1833. They are the parents of four children : Charley, Annie E., Coburn G. and William. Mr. Layton had when married but very little property, and by his economy, perseverance and industry has now acquired a good property, owning the best dwelling-house in the township. He obtained a start by managing a ditching machine. His father was a native of New York and his mother of Pennsylvania. He is a republican in politics. He owns one hundred and sixty-seven acres of land, worth $35 per acre.

A. G. Smith, Potomac, farmer and stock-dealer, section 8, was born in Vermilion county, Illinois, on the 5th of June, 1855. His father, John Smith (English), of this township, is one of the largest landowners and most extensive stock-dealers in this county. Mr. A. G. Smith ships from ten to fifteen car-loads of cattle every year, besides quite a number of hogs. He is so far following the example of his father that he is one of the most thorough business young men in the county. He was married on the 7th of October, 1875, to Lizzie Wilkie. She was born in Scotland on the 12th of April, 1855. They are the parents of two children: John C, born on the 27th of April, 1877, and Laura, born on the 27th of April, 1879. Mr. Smith owns five hundred and forty acres of land, worth $30 per acre.

Milton Watson, Armstrong, farmer, was born in Warren county, Ohio, on the 15th of May, 1823. He remained on the farm assisting his father until he reached the age of sixteen. He came to this state in 1858, settling in this county, and here he has since remained. He was married in 1843. This wife, Mrs. Mary Watson, was born in Virginia. They had six children, three of whom are now living. Mr. Watson was married in 1851 to Sarah Jones, a native of Ohio. By this marriage eight children were born to them, five of whom are living. Mr. Watson enlisted in the late war, in 1862, with Co. I, 125th 111. Inf. Vol., as teamster, and was mustered out by general order. He was injured by a wagon while in the service, for which injury he receives a pension of eighteen dollars per month. Mr. Watson has practiced the veterinary art for some years, and seems to be quite successful. -

Charles B. Westcott, Potomac, farmer, section 16, was born in Wayne county, ISTew York, on the 1st of June, 1830. His chances for an early education were good, having been educated for a minister of the gospel, but being of skeptical turn of mind, dissented from the church, believing, as he still does, that all religious worship is idolatry. He was at one time owner and captain of a boat called the " Bella Clyde," which plied between Albany and New York. Mr. Westcott came to this state in 1858, settling in Shelby county, where he remained two years. lie then returned to New York, and, after staying one year, came back to this state, where he has since resided. Mr. Westcott was married toUrie Palhemus on the 9th of January, 1852. She was born in New York on the 4th of September, 1834. They have had by this union two children : Taylor M. and Hattie M., now wife of Henry "Weaver, of Edgar county.

William Hobbs, Armstrong, farmer, section 31, the subject of this sketch, was born in Nelson county, Kentucky, on the 26th of April, 1820. He remained at home until he reached the age of thirty-nine. He has been twice married : first, to Mary Strong, on the 29th of November, 1849. She was born in Illinois, and is now deceased. They had five children by this marriage, all now dead. He was then married to Allie Biggerstaff, on the 16th of December, 1860. She was born near Covington, Indiana, in 1840. They have by this union three children : Joseph H., Katie L. and William E. Mr. Hobbs has held the office of school director fifteen years, and is one of the oldest settlers of this county. He is a republican and a Methodist.

G. M. Crays, Armstrong, farmer, was born in Sangamon county, Illinois, on the 25th of August, 1833. His chances for an early education were good, and he has taught, six years in succession, a district school. Mr. Crays has been a traveling minister of the M. E. church for the past twenty years, and possesses no small amount of ability. On the 14th of September, 1849, he was married to Courtney Lafayette. She was born in Vermilion county, Illinois, on the 28th of January, 1841. They have had by this union nine children, seven of whom are living: Mark A., George E., Anna M., Kichard C, Alfred C, Clara and Emaline. The names of the deceased are: Charles W. and Elizabeth. Mr. Crays has held the office of school director for several years, and is regarded as one of Vermilion county's best citizens. His parents were natives of North Carolina.

James F. Anderson, Potomac, carpenter, was born in Clarke county, Indiana, on the 19th of December, 1826. He remained at home working in his father's wagon shop until he reached the age of nineteen. His chances for an early education were quite limited. Mr. Anderson has been twice married: first, to Mary Owens, in 1859. They had by this marriage two children : Miller P. and John J. He was then married to Eliza Valandingham in 1869. She was born in Owen county, Kentucky. Mr. Anderson, in the late war, enlisted in Co. E, 30th 111. Inf. Vol., and in 1861 went forward to battle bravely for his country. He was in the battle of Mount Sterling, and was

Charles E. Pressey, Potomac, merchant, owns a hardware and tin store, keeping on hand a stock of agricultural implements, on Main street, in Marysville; also the store building and the lot on which it stands, and besides this, one lot and home residence, and thirty-six other lots in Marysville. He was born in Tompkins county, New York, on the 25th of November, 1837, and remained at home with his parents until eighteen years of age, attending school most of the time. He left home and went into a store in New York, where he staid three years, and in 1859 came to this state and farmed seven years. Here he married Emily Stewart, who was born in Decatur county, Indiana. They are the parents of two children: Ralph and Lillie. Mr. Pressy has held the office of village trustee three years. He was appointed postmaster at Potomac in 1876, which office he still holds.

W. A. McMurtrey, Potomac, agent for American Express Company, was born in Boone county, Kentucky, on the 1st of December, 1836 ; remained at home with his parents until he was nineteen years of age, learning the blacksmith trade ; he then went to Indiana, remaining there from 1856 to 1860, working on a farm. Mr. McMurtrey enlisted on the 1st of April, 1863, in Co. K, 135th 111. Vol. Inf., and served one hundred days as private ; he reenlisted on the 3d of February, 1864, in Co. E, 149th 111. Vol. Inf. as second-lieutenant, but was soon promoted to first-lieutenant and served twelvemonths. Coming home, he married Mary Allbright on the 10th of September, 1866. She was born in Pickaway county, Ohio, in 1848. They have three children : Edwin S., Leo H. and Maggie. Mr. McMurtrey has held the office of school director six months. He owns a half interest in a good lumber yard, and possesses a neat residence. His parents were natives of Kentucky.

L. B. Marshall, Potomac, farmer, section 26, was born in Warren county, Indiana, on the 21st of September, 1842. His parents died when he was quite young, and he, thrown thus upon his own resources, had but a poor chance for an early education. In 1864 he enlisted in Co. B, 135th Ind., for one hundred days. Mr. Marshall has held the office of constable two years in this township ; was employed in Marysville as clerk in the dry-goods and grocery store of W. J. Henderson for some time. He now resides on the Copeland farm near Marysville.

teen he left the farm, and with an ox-team started for Pike's Peak, where he remained three years. He enlisted in the late war in August, 1861, in Co. B, 1st Col. Cav., as quarter-master sergeant. He was ordered out among the Indians, where he remained two years, engaging in several skirmishes with the redskins. He was mustered out in 1866, and returned to this state and married Mary E. Rigles, on the 2d of September, 1867. She was born in Pennsylvania on the 13th of February, 1843. They are the parents of three children : Merrit, Clayton and Lafariest. Mr. Elliott's parents are natives of Ohio; Mrs. Elliott's of Pennsylvania. Mr. Elliott now owns one hundred and forty-two acres of land, worth $40 per acre.

L. C. Messner, Potomac, druggist and physician, was born in Darke county, Ohio, on the 15th of December, 1844. He left home when fifteen years of age, and his chances for an early education were limited. At the age of sixteen by daily labor he paid off a mortgage of one hundred dollars on his father's farm, thus preventing foreclosure. In 1865- 66 he attended two courses of lectures in Rush Medical College, at Chicago, and receiving a diploma for the practice of medicine in 1866, he settled in Marysville as a medical practitioner, in which profession he has been quite successful. The Doctor has been twice married : first to Mary Drummond in September, 1866. They had three children by this marriage : Nellie M., William C, living, and xilma U., deceased. He was then married to Maria J. Clark on the 9th of January, 1873. By this union one infant, deceased. Dr. Messner has held the office of town-clerk one term, and school-treasurer four years. He had, when he commenced the practice of medicine, no property, but now owns a half interest in a drug-store, a house, lot and about ten thousand dollars' worth of other property which he has earned by his energy, industry and economy.

Charles A. Jameson, Potomac, cabinetmaker, was born in Champaign county, Ohio, on the 3d of March, 1847. He learned his trade when quite young. He was married to Emelia Richart on the 15th of September, 1869. She was born in Vermilion county, Illinois, in 1852. They are the parents of three children : Maggie M., Lulu E. and Robert. Mr. Jameson is a very enterprising and industrious man. He owns one lot and cabinetshop, and three-fourths of an acre with good dwelling. His father was one of the pioneers of this county.

James D. Anderson, Potomac, farmer, section 8, remained on his father's farm until 1861, with his mother, his father having died when he was fifteen years old. At this time he enlisted in Co. F, 35th 111. Inf. Vol., as private. He was in the battles of Chickamauga, Mission Ridge, Perryville, Resaca, Buzzard's Roost and the battle before

Atlanta. In an engagement he received a wound in the neck. He was married to Mary Partlow on the 6th of October, 1869. She was born in Vermilion county in 1852. They have had by this union five children, three of whom are living: Mattie, Eay and Nellie: the deceased are Willie and Jesse. Mr. Anderson owns his farm, which contains one hundred and sixty-three acres, worth 830 per acre. In politics he is a republican; religion, Methodist.

William Kirkhart, Armstrong, farmer, section 18, was born in "Wetzel county, West Virginia, on the 10th of September, 1847. His parents died when he was quite young, leaving him, at the tender age of eight, to light life's battles alone; consequently, his chances for an early education were poor. He was married to Mary S. Perry, on the 10th of January, 1871. She was born in Vermilion county, on the loth of April, 1856. They have had by this marriage five children, three of whom are living: Elmer, Nellie and Mariddie. The deceased were infant twins.

H. Biederman, shoemaker, Potomac, was born in Germany, on the 25th of April, 1846, and came to America on the 17th of July, 1870. Mr. Biederman has never entered the married state. He owns a lot in Marysville, on which is the shoe-shop. He is an honest, industrious man, and well respected by all who know him.

J. C. Williams, Armstrong, grain merchant, was born in Vanderburg county, Indiana, on the 6th of November, 1847. He came to this state in 1867, settling in McLean county, and there aided his uncle in improving a farm. He was married to Mary T. Dickinson, on the 14th of October, 1870. She was born in Pike county, Illinois, on the 5th of July, 1847. Mr. Williams' farm of one hundred and fifteen acres, worth $40 per acre, is adjacent to the thriving little village of Armstrong. Upon the outskirts of the town he has a fine dwelling, and he has also a grain office, scales, and extensive grain-cribs. He bought and shipped over forty thousand bushels of corn and twenty-five thousand bushels of oats the first year of his entering the business, which was in 1877. Mr. Williams is an energetic business man, and by him the grain trade has been started in Armstrong.

Robert Miller, Armstrong, farmer, section 25, was born in Washington county, Pennsylvania. His father being a farmer, he worked on the farm until twenty-one years of age. His father came to this state and first settled in Champaign county. He remained there one year, and then moved to Indiana, where ha sta}Ted six years, and then returned to this state. Mr. Miller was married to Elizabeth Small, on the 25th of September, 1870. She was born in Vermilion county in 1852. They are the parents of five children : Joseph W., Anna B.,

Robert P., Benjamin F. and Thomas E. Mr. Miller raises principally corn, which he feeds at home. He owns one hundred and ninety-nine acres of land, worth $30 per acre. His parents were natives of Pennsylvania ; Mrs. Miller's parents were natives of Indiana.

T. W. Buckingham, Potomac, inn-keeper and justice of the peace, commenced in 1876 to manage the hotel on Main street in Maiysville, known as the Murcle House. He was born in Allen county, Indiana, on the 23d of April, 1833. His father died when he was but five years of age, and he lived with his mother, going to school in the-winter and working on a farm in the summer, until twenty-one years of age. He left home, went to Pittsburgh, and entered the mercantile business. He came to this state in 1870, settling in Fairmount, in this county. He went into the grocery business, but afterward became a commercial traveler for some time. He was married in 1856 to Ellen A. Clark. She was born in the state of New York, on the 10th of April, 1838. They are the parents of five children : Mary A., now wife of G. J. May, of Marysville ; Mable F., George T., Myrtie and Clyde. The parents of Mr. Buckingham were natives of New York, and the parents of Mrs. B. of New Jersey.

J. E. Jameson, Potomac, mechanic, was born in Muskingum county, Ohio, on the 15th of March, 1847. He remained at his native place until he reached the age of twenty-five, " working out " by the month part of the time, and at other times assisting his father in farming. Soon after this he learned the wagon and carriage making trade, which trade he still follows. He was married to Eliza Knox, on the 8th of October, 1873. She was born in Vermilion county in 1842, and died on the 15th of January, 1878. They had by this marriage two children : Thomas R.. and Minnie B. Mr. Jameson commenced business in 1872, and now owns two houses and lots in Marysville. His father, one of the pioneers of Vermilion county, built the first carriage-shop in the village.

James Wilson, Marysville, blacksmith, was born in West Virginia, on the 13th of April, 1834, and was raised on a farm, where he remained until eighteen years of age, at which time he learned the blacksmith trade, which was his chosen trade. He came to this state in 1872, settling in this county in Oakwood township, and removed to Blue Grass in 1875, where he still resides, and where he still continues to work at the blacksmith trade, doing a good business. Mr. Wilson has been twice married: first, in 1857, to Irene Evie, who was born in Virginia and died in 1875. They had seven children, five living: Morgan, Charley, Joseph, Martha and Sarah. The deceased were Mary and one

Charles T. Morse, Potomac, merchant, is a member of the firm of Ludden & Morse, on the corner of public square, Marysville. These gentlemen keep on hand a good stock of dry-goods and groceries. Mr. M. was born in New Haven, Connecticut, on the 22d of February, 1827. He remained at home with his parents until twenty-one years of age. His chances for an early education were good, and he availed himself of the opportunities thus offered. He was brought up as clerk in a store, thus becoming well acquainted with the business, which he has continued to follow to the present time. For some years Mr. Morse was connected with a wholesale dry-goods house in Chicago. He came to Marysville and commenced business in 1872, and has, at this time, about $5,000 invested in stock in Marysville. He has held the office of school trustee for six years. His parents are natives of Connecticut.

Thomas Carter, Potomac, farmer, section 8, was born in Tippecanoe county, Indiana, on the 26th of July, 1846, and during the early part of his life remained on the farm. He was married to Mary E. McQuillen, on the 22d of December, 1873. She was born in Missouri in 1848- They are the parents of four children : John, William, Gracy J. and Harrison. Mr. Carter owns a farm of fifty acres, worth 850 per acre, and handles some stock every year. The parents of both Mr. and Mrs. Carter are natives of Ohio. He is a republican in politics, and his religious views are Methodist.

Albert H. Dickson, Armstrong, farmer, was born in Barren county, Kentucky, on the 7th of March, 1853. Although his chances for an early education were limited, yet he acquired sufficient knowledge, - mostly at home, - to enable him to teach the branches taught in the country school. He has been teaching in the winters for some five years past. He was married to Mary E. French on the 29th of August, 1876. She was born in Vermilion county, Illinois, on the 19th of July, 1858. They have had but one child : Irena E., born on the 27th of December, 1877. Mr. Dickson has held the office of postmaster one year. He is an active member of the Christian church, and is preparing for the ministry, having acted in that capacity for some time past. He bids fair to become a useful man in the community in which he lives.

Silas H. Vandoren, Armstrong, physician, was born in Fulton county, Illinois, on the 9th of January, 1851. At the age of sixteen he commenced the study of medicine, first reading with Dr. Campbell, of Wilmington, Illinois, and afterward attending lectures in Chicago for one year. At the expiration of this course of lectures he received a diploma, and for three years remained in Chicago as a practicing phy- sician, then he removed to Livingston county, remaining one year, when he came to Armstrong, where he is still following his profession. The Doctor is of the Eclectic school, and his labors have been attended with much success. He was married to Dora Fleming on the 29th of December, 1874. She was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, on the 19th of December, 1852. They had by this union two children, of which, Willie, born on the 10th of May, 1876, is living, and an infant deceased.

Charles P. Duncan, Potomac, groceries, was born in Fountain county, Indiana, on the 22d of July, 1852. He remained with his father until he was married to Mary A. Copeland, on the 16th of August, 1876. She was born in Vermilion county, Illinois. They are the parents of one child : Ernest C, born on the 1st of August, 1878. Mr. Duncan is an energetic young man, and is doing a lively business. He owns two lots and a dwelling-house in Marysville, and has about one thousand dollars invested in groceries. His parents are natives of Pennsylvania.

John E. Butz, Potomac, physician, was born in Wyandot county, Ohio. His father moved to this state in 1853, settling in Decatur. His mother died when he was but seven years of age. He was taken care of till three years of age by his father. He then moved a second time. Mr. Butz worked on a farm until twenty-one years of age. His chances for an early education were not very good. He entered Ann Arbor high school in 1871, and graduated in June, 1875. He commenced the study of medicine the same fall, and graduated at Rush Medical College in February, 1878. He commenced the practice of medicine in Marysville on the 1st of April, 1878. He has been getting a good practice, which has been attended with good success. On the 25th of April, 1879, the Doctor performed, a surgical operation on a child for hare-lip, - a child of Mr. Buckingham, of Marysville. He was assisted in the operation by Dr. Messner, of that place. The operation was a success. He also operated on Jane Reese for deformity of the mouth, caused by mercury. He was assisted also in this operation by Dr. Messner. This operation was performed on the 11th of May, 1879. This also bids fair to be attended with good results. The Doctor has a bright prospect of making a splendid physician and surgeon.

George W. Young, Potomac, blacksmith, was born in Franklin county, Ohio, on the 16th of April, 1842. His mother died when he was but twelve years old. He then lived with his father until he was married to Laura Underbill, on the 17th of May, 1877. She was born in Clinton county, Indiana, on the 1st of August, 1868. They have buried two infants. He learned blacksmithing when quite young, and commenced his trade in Marvsville in 1878. Mr. Young is an energetic, industrious man, and is receiving the good patronage that he deserves. H. E. Thomas, Potomac, barber, was born in La Porte county, Indiana, on the 1st of May, 1854. At the age of seventeen he learned the trade which he has since followed. He was married to Margaret Johnson on the 16th of May, 1875. She was born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on the 19th of October, 1855. They have had two children by this marriage : Charles C, living, and Delia M., deceased. Mr. Thomas commenced business as a barber in Marysville in 1878, and has now a lively patronage. His parents are natives of Massachusetts.