Mona Township (part 1 of 2)

Mona Township

The township of Mona was set off from Rogers March 2, 1870, being the last township organized in the county. When first created, it was call Delhi, at the suggestion of Supervisor Bishop, of Brenton Township, but several months after was changed to Mona, at the request of the citisens of the township.

It was so named because many of the inhabitants of said township are natives of the Isle of Man. Through the kindness of Mr. David Keighin, we will give a brief sketch of that lonely island:

The Isle of Man is situated in the Irish Sea, nearly equi¬ distant from the three surrounding countries. Its area is about 220 square miles. Two-thirds consists of arable and meadow land, and the remainder of heath and moor. The climate is high¬ ly salubrious, being exempt from oppressive heats in summer and frosts in winter. The commerce is not great; the chief article of export is fish - herrings - bringing in a clear revenue of £40,000 a year. The language of the island is one of the three dialects of Celtic, which still continues to be spoken there. It is similar to the Irish ; therefore, the natives of Ireland, the highlanders of Scotland and the Manksman have little difficulty in understand¬ ing each other. The island is divided into six Manors, and these subdivided into seventeen Parishes. The Isle obtained its name from the original founder and legislator of the islaind, Mannanan MacLer; the name being contracted to Mannin, and in later years to Mann. Mona, with which Mann is often con¬ founded, is rather a description of the island, than a name. Mona signifies isolated or lonely, and was doubtless applied to the isle by the inhabitants of surrounding countries.

Mona Township is bounded on the north by Rogers Town¬ ship, on the east by Iroquois County, south by the township of Pella and west by Livingston County. It is a Congressional township, being six miles square. The north half is a fine body of undulating prairie land, settled by an excellent class of intel¬ ligent formers.

The southwest part of the township is low, level land with deep soil, and in djry seasons capable of raising large crops of corn, while the remainder of the township is covered over with a lai^e marsh, called the Vermilion Swamps, now in process of drainage.

The first settler in Mona was Matthew Faddling, who came here twenty*five years ago, and settled on Section 5 where he now resides. Among the early settlers may be mentioned Jacob Rolderman, Louis Falter, Sr., Wright Kemp, M. C. Lewis, Daniel Morrical, Thomas Kelly, John Looney, Thomas Heqvysides, Robert Lewin, Samuel Dowse, William Cowley, George Sherman, John and William Dancer, Henry Benson.

The first schoolhouse was built on the northwest quarter of Section 32, Belle Hose boing the first teacher. Schools No. 3 and 5 were started about the samo time.

The first religious services in the township were held in School No. 3. The Sunday school was started by George Sherman, who was the Superintendent for seven years.

The town hall on the southeast quarter of Section 8, was built for the purpose of holding religious, political, social and lit¬ erary meetings. In 1876, a literary society was organized with John A. Scott, President; David Keighin, Vice President; A. Anderson, Secretary ; and M. A. Dinsmore, Treasurer, the cen¬ tral object being to cultivate a taste for literature among the resi¬ dents of the township. The exercises of the Mona Literary So¬ ciety were somewhat varied; the main object being the improve¬ ment of the social condition of the oommunity. Their efforts were ably seconded by other districts of Ford and adjoining coun¬ ties and liberal donations were received from Paxton, Piper City, Clifton and other towns.

The society flourished until the village of Kempton was started in the northwest corner of the township, which drew away some of the citizens and much of the interest that centered at the hall.

There are eight district schoolhouses in this township, two of them, the "Keighin" and "Kelly" Schoolhouses, are the hand¬ somest buildings, outside the villages, in Ford County.

The first preaching in the township was at the Bute Schoolhouse, by Rev. M. C. Lewis, a Methodist preacher. The society then numbered fourteen members.

In 1881, the society erected a church in Kempton, under the supervision of Rev. Joe Bell, pastor, and A. Stuart, R. F. Bell and James Kemp, Trustees. The new church was dedicated the 28th of April, 1882, by Rev. B. F. Tallman. R. F. Bell was ap¬ pointed the first Superintendent of the Sunday sohool.

Kempton is the only village in the township, a station on the Kankakee A Southwestern Railroad. It was laid out in 1878, by Wright Kemp. The railroad company called their station Kempton, in honor of Mr. Kemp, who rendered them excellent service in securing the right-of-way for the railroad across the township. The village contains two general stores, one hard¬ ware store, one drug store, one lumber yard, two elevators, and a hotel. The population is about 200. J. W. Brown built the first frame house in the village. J. E. Seyster was the first sta¬ tion agent

David Keighin is a native of the Isle of Man. He came to Tennessee in 1848, and to this township from Peoria in 1869. He has a fine farm of 480 acres, and a pleasant home on Sec¬ tion 11. In connection with his farm, he, with his son Charles, are engaged in the grain business in Kempton. Mr. Keighin was elected the first Supervisor of Mona, which office he ably filled for seven years. In the community and in all public en¬ terprises he takes a lively interest His warm heart and genial ways have made him an abundance of friends, and by his indus¬ try, honesty and integrity, is justly entitled to the respect of all.

Thomas Kelly came from the Isle of Man in the spring of 1849, in the same ship with David Keighin. He moved to this township in 1867, coming from Galva, Henry County, Ill. In reviewing the lives of successful men, how true do we find in nearly every instance, that hard work, economy and industry have laid the foundation of future prosperity. Mr. Kelly is no exception to this rule, and his large farm of 640 acres, suitable and substantial buildings, have Men acquired only by a life's lqbor, and constant application.

i Joseph McKinney is a son of Archibald McKinney, one of the early settlers of Brenton Township. Mr. McKinney came to Kempton in 1880, and bought out the hardware store and lumber yard of John McKinney, now in business in Piper City.

Samuel Dowse came to this township in 1868, settling on Seotion 8 . He now owns 860 acres of .fine land with good im¬ provements. He was Assessor for six years, and at present is Justioe of the Peaoe. He is a native of England.

Louis Falter, Jr., was bom in Ohio. He came to Mona Township in 1869. He now owns 820 acres in Section 4. Mr. Falter is one of the active, progressive farmers of Ford County. He has a beautiful home, and is in the prime of life.

John Looney is a native of the Isle of Man. Mr. Looney owns 240 acres of excellent land in this township. He is a shrewd man, well read on all principal topics.

John A. Scott is a native of Washington County, Penn. He came to this township in 1870. He now owns all of Section 9, where he has erected a comfortable home, large and convenient bams and other buildings. He is the present Supervisor of the township.

Henry Benson left England in 1854, and came to Kendall County, Ill., then to this township in 1867, settling on Section 1. He owns a fine farm of 240 acres, with handsome improve¬ ments.

The largest stock-dealers in the township are the Dancers - John and William. They came from Will County before the township was settled, with large droves of cattle to herd on the . Vermilion Swamps during the summer. They have herded as many as a thousand head that were placed under their care, in a season. In 1873, they came here to live, and now own 480 acres of land. John is married, and has a fine house on Section 14. They keep about 200 head of cattle on hand all the time, buying as fast as they sell. Johu Dancer is one of the Drainage Commissioners of the special Vermilion Ditch that is being con¬ structed across the swamps.

Robert Lewin, farmer, is a native of the Isle of Man. He oame here in I 860 . He owns a well-regulated farm of 480 acres, with handsome buildings. He is a thorough, successful man, and has accumulated by hard labor and shrewd management a goodly share of this world's goods.

Daniel Morn cal was bom in Laurel Hill, Va., 1886. He moved to Ohio, then lived in Indiana twenty-two years, and finally settled in Ford County in 1869. He has held the office of Justice of the Peace since the township was organised, and has been School Director several years. He is a farmer, and owns 160 acres of land.

George Essington, farmer, is a native of England. He came to this township in 1871, settling on Section 1. He %wns a good, well-improved farm of eighty acres.

John Sutton was bom in England in 1885. He left there in 1858, settling first in New York State, and then moved to Grundy County, HI., where he remained some ten years. He enlisted in the Ninety-first Illinois Regiment, and was in the service three years. He moved to Section 8 , .Mona Township, in township from Grandy County in 1882 . He owns the north¬ west quarter of Section 81. Himself and wife are the parents of seventeen children, twelve of whom are now living.

James E. Farley is the present Assessor.' He was bora in Pennsylvania, and came here in 1875, and now owns 240 acres in Seotion 5. Mr. Farley is a carpenter by trade, but most of the time is actively engaged in farming.

James Kemp was bora in Kendall County, HI., 1858, and is the son of Wright Kemp, who now resides in Kankakee City. Mr. Kemp, the subject of this sketch takes a deep interest in all improvements, and is himself a natural mechanic. He has a beautiful home one-half mile west of Kempton.

Personal Sketches

CHRIS. ANDERSON, Roberts, was born April 28,1842, at Sanquhar, Dumfriesshire, Scotland, and came to Hlinois in the fall of 1866. In the winter of 1866-67, he bought the southeast quarter of Section 4, Township 25, Range 9, and farmed until 1872. In the fall of that year our subject asso¬ ciated %ith John A. Montelius and George Campbell, of Piper City, under the firm name of Montelius & Co., as general store¬ keepers and grain merchants. In 1875, Mr. Montelius sold out, when the business was carried on under the firm name of Ander¬ son A Campbell, until 1878, in which year Mr. Campbell sold out and went to Piper City to commence his banking business. Mr. Anderson continued tne store keeping up to the fall of 1881, when he sold out to James Smith & Son, and took possession of the Roberts Exchange Bank in 1882. In the spring of 1888, he started the Roberts Brick and Tile Works.

SWEN ANDERSON, Justice of the Peaoe, Sibley, was bora in Sweden, January 6 , 1844, and is a son of O. and Cary Anderson. He came to this country with his parents, and settled in Knox County, HI. In 1868, he settled in this county. Our subject was united in marriage with Latha Swenson, of Fairbury. HI. They have four children - Carry C., Albert F., George Theodor and James L. In addition to his official position, Mr. Anderson is a Notary Public, insurance and land agent

HON. HUGH P. BEACH, Piper City. Judge Beach trapes his paternal ancestry back to the Hon. Daniel D. Tomp¬ kins, one of the early Governors of New York State, and subse¬ quently Vioe President of the United States for two terms conse¬ cutively under James Monroe as President; his ancestry on his mother's side is traoeable to certain high official positions in Con¬ necticut The eyes of our subject first opened to the light of day, about forty years ago, in a humble log cabin in the then wildorness of Northern Ohio, near what is now the beautiful city of Cleveland. He received such education as the scant facilities of that early day offered to farmer boys, until about the age of fourteen, when, upon the death of his mother, he started oat to confront the fortunes of life and carve out a career for himself, unaided and alone. His first venture was in a printing offioe, which he entered as " printer's devil," and in and from that position, through all the intermediate grades up to the writer of locals for a country journal, he served for several years, during which period he received his first substantial scholarship in the history of the political affairs of his country and the world. Time and an increase of knowledge awakened within him a desire to enter the legal profession, ana k favorable opportunity presenting itself, he changed his occupation, and spent the next succeeding years in the offices of two prominent lawyers. Hero he was found at the breaking-out of the late rebellion. At the firing on Fort Sum¬ ter, he at once volunteered for three years, or " during the war." The first company he joined (such was the patriotic rush to the defense of the country) failed to be accepted by the authorities ; he did not have to wait long, however, for the call for " 300,000 more" gave him an opportunity of entering the service as a pri¬ vate ; he remained for over four years and a half in oonstant serv¬ ice, and though but comparatively a boy, he served through all the various grades up to the command of a company, both in¬ fantry and artillery, holding his commissions about half the en¬ tire term of service. This took him through campaigns and en-

S agements from the Ohio River to the Gulf, the Red River expeition, and the movement against Mobile and the attendant con¬ flicts, which resulted in its capture, in which latter operations in the field he was in command of his own company; he also after¬ ward rendered service in the Gulf Coast defense at the mouth of the Mississippi. Daring his term of service, he was from time to time under Gens. Grant, Sherman, Sheridan, Banks, Canby Smith and other distinguished commanders. Two slight wounds, only, attested to the many perils of this long and arduous service. After the assassination of President Linooln, he raised a contri¬ bution in his company of over $700 for the National Lincoln Monument at Springfield, and received an autograph letter of thanks from Gov. Oglesby, President of the Monument Associa¬ tion. Toward the close of his term' of service, he married the daughter of the late Captv Henry Lyon Smith, of the Engineer Corps of the old regular army, who was a graduate of West Point, and subsequently a Professor at that post. Capt. Smith was of New England birth, and after he graduated at West Point he was sent by the United States Government to Louisiana, where he married the sister of a classmate, and thus became connected with one of the firot families of Louisiana, among whom were a Governor of the State and several Generals and distinguished political leaders. One member (aunt to the wife of our subject) has, since the close of the war, filled the position of Librarian, first at the patent offioe, and next at the agricultural department at Washington. On returning from the army, Judge Beach with his young wife came direct to Ford County, HI., where he has since resided. Here he at once resumed the study of law in con¬ nection with other branches of professional business, and was ad¬ mitted to the bar about 1870, aud during the three succeeding years was engaged in private practice. In the spring of 1878, his fellow-townsmen elected him to the County Board of Supervisors, where, by his vigilance and advocacy of economy, retrenchment and reform in the management of the affairs of the county, he immediately attracted general attention and, very unexpectedly to himself, was taken up by the people and by an overwhelming majority elected, the same fall, to the offioe of County Judge of Ford County, to which position he has been re¬ elected for three successive terms. He is a Knight Templar, St. Paul's Commandery, No. 84, Fairbury, HI.; he is also a member of the I. O. O. F., both Suborainate and Encamp¬ ment, and has been a Representative to the Grand Lodge of the State. He has also been President of the Board of Trustees of the village where he resides, and has held numerous o£her subordinate offioes. In politics, he is a Republican. In religion, he believes God reigns supreme. Judge Beach is counted one of the best orators of Eastern Illinois, and is pronounced by those who know him most intimately, to be a faithral, upright and just Judge.

HENRY BENSON, farmer, P. O. Kempton, was bora May 2,1839, aud is a son of Henry and Ann Benson, natives of North Lancashire, England, who had a family of nine children, six girls and three boys, Henry being the youngest son. The family emigrated to America landing in Philadriphia January 6 , 1855, and came at once to Kendall County, HI., and settled on a farm near Lisbon where they -remained three years when a farm was purchased near Yorkviue, where the family lived nine years. In the spring of 1865, the mother died; the following year the farm was sold and the family separated, to find homes for themselves. Henry located in Mona Township, on his present place of residence, in the spring of 1867, when it was a wild prairie. On December 31, 1868, he was united in mar¬ riage with Hannah, daughter 6f Wright and Elisabeth Kemp, natives of Lancashire, England, who emigrated to the United States in 1849.. 'The issue of this union is a family of six chil¬ dren - Mary Alice, Horace Kemp, Henry Wright, Wilbur Jphn,

Walter Elliott and Arthur Heap. The father of our subjeet died May 9, 1877. Our subject is a progressive man and keeps well up with the times, as is shown in the surroundings of his beautiful home and finely improved farm.

W. A. BICKET, Sibley, resident agent and general man¬ ager for Hiram Sibley's " Burr Oaks farm," war born in Can¬ ada in 1842. When but thirteen years old, he entered a store as clerk, and before he was fourteen became book-keeper of the establishment. In 1860, he oame to Chioago, Ill., where he entered a commission store as clerk and afterward became book¬ keeper. In 1868, he went to Minnesota, and enlisted in Uncle Sam's service, remaining until the close of the war. He after¬ ward became head manager of a large manufacturing establish¬ ment which employed a quarter of a million dollars investment. In 1872, he came to the Burr Oaks farm, and has since been resident agent. t He has a vast amount of business to perform, looking after $1,000,000 worth of Mr. Sibley's property at Sib¬ ley, and over the form. He is Supervisor of Sullivant Town¬ ship, a position he has held for six years, one year as chairman of that body. He has been a member of the village board three years, and has held all the township offices from Constable to Supervisor. He was married to Ellen Pratt, a native of Fari¬ bault, Minn., February 11 , 1867. They had eight children, six of whom are now living. Mr. Bicket is one of Ford County's prominent and valued citizens, widely known and honored by! all.

COL. CHARLES BOGARDUS, a man in the prime of life, is one of the most widely known and prominent business men of the county. He has at the early age of forty-two, a his¬ tory as a military officer, a reputation as a business man, and a fortune of his own accumulation, surpassed by few who stand at the close of life's allotted span. Charles Bogardus was bora in Cayuga County, N. Y., March 28, 1841. Daring an epi¬ demic in 1847, almost his entire family, including father and mother, were sWept away by death. He was taken by an un¬ cle, W. H. Bogardus, who gave him the advantages of the com¬ mon school until the age of twelve years, when he secured a place in a grocery store at $1.50 per week, his uncle famish* ing him wiSi board and clothes. This place he held for four years, receiving advances in pay from time to time. All of his wages had been paid over to his uncle as received every Saturday night On the expiration of his term ofservioe, he borrowed money to take him to Ridgeway, in Western New York, and commenced clerking and earning his first money at $8 per month. He continued hero until 1862, receiving an advance in salary each year. The benevolent uncle, although a poor man, had without the knowlndge of his nephew invested the small earnings of his first engagement, and without any charges for board or clothes, offered to turn over to him the whole amount, whioh was firmly and justly declined with thanks. In ,1862, he was married to Hannah W. Pells, and in August of the same year enlisted as and was sworn in a private in Company A, One Hundred and Fifty-first New York Volun¬ teers. Here began, for one so ypung, a most active and suc¬ cessful military career. At the organization of the company, he was elected First Lieutenant, ana was promoted to the Cap¬ taincy of Company I December 12, 1862, to Lieutenant Colonel December 10, 1864, and brevetted Colonel by order of the Pres¬ ident of the .United States for gallant and meritorious services in one of the charges in front of Petersburg, Va., April 2, 1865. The Governor of New York forwarded the President's commission to him with the following autograph letter: u Colonel: I have the pleasure to transmit herewith a brevet commission con¬ ferred by the President, in recognition of your faithful and dis¬ tinguished services in the war. I feel a just pride in this ac¬ knowledgment of the gallantry and devotion of an offioer of this State, which serves to heighten the reputation won by the valor and oonstanoy of the soldiers of New York. Very truly yours, R. E. Fenton." He participated in all the marches, skirmishes and battles, many of the hardest fought of the war, in whioh his regiment was engaged, which belonged to the Sixth Army Corns. He was wounded at Monocaoy, Md., July 9, 1864, oaptured and escaped Richmond and Libby Prisons; by the severity of his wound, not being able to endure the transfer by ambulance, he was carried three miles on a stretcher to the Confederate hospital at Frederick City, Md. In a few days the Union troops captured that plaoe, and he was then sent to the offioers* hospital at Annapolis, Md. From thence, on crutches, home to cast his first vote for Lincolr and back again to his regiment, though not able to walk without his cane, and finished his military qareer With his old command, having been mustered out June 26,1865. After the dose of the war, he returned to Ridgeway, N. Y., and entered into partnership with his old em¬ ployer, with whom he remained a full partner until failing health from his wound received in 1864 compelled him to give up bus¬ iness. In March, 1872, he came to Paxton to make it his per¬ manent home, having found, by visiting, the climate favorable to his health, since which time he has been identified permanently with all worthy enterprises of the city and community. He and his estimable wife have a place in the hearts of our people, -es¬ pecially in those of the poor and needy, whose wants are diligent* iy and unostentatiously searched out and alleviated.

S. P. BUSHNELL, President of the First National Bank, organised May 5,1888, Paxton, HI., was bora in Oneida County, N. Y., March 24, 1827, son of Rev. Calvin and Polly (Williams) Bushnell, former a native of Saybrook, Conn., latter reared in that State. She died at Roseville, Vermilion Co., Ill., at the age of nearly ninety years. Rev. Calvin Bushnell came West in 1886, and located in Kendall County, Ill. He died at Lisbon, HI., in 1862, aged eighty years. Our subject came West to Kendall County, III., with his parents, and here ho obtained but a common school education. He was married, April 28, 1850, to Adeline McEwen, who bore him three children, two now Ur¬ ine - Emily J., wife of Dr. S. M. Wylie, residing in Paxton, ana A. S., assistant oashier of the First National Bank, Paxton. One child died in infancy. Mr. Bushnell bps been engaged in various enterprises, from tyne to time, with marked degree of success, having accumulated a competency, and is at present in active business, dealing in grain ; he owns several valuable tracts of .excellent farm land in Central Illinois. Our subject is cer¬ tainly one of the exemplary citisens of Paxton, and one of Ford County's most successful business men.

RENSSELAER BOWKER, contractor and builder, Gibson, son of Cubing and Abigal (Rider) Bowker, was born April 6, 1829, in Shefford, Shefford Co., Canada East. On the 28d of April, 1855, he was united in marriage with Mary Batchelder Spaulding. They have seven children - Albert Rensselaer, born September 6, 1859; Chellis Irwin, November 1, 1860, in Mem-

JAMES PORTER BUTTON (deceased) was born in Jefferson County, Ky., Jan. 29, 1822. Came to Ford County in 1852. Mr. Button was married to Mias Sarah R< Hock, in Fountain County, Ind., February 8, 1845. They have had a family of eight children, seven .of whom are now living. Mr. Button en¬ tered land in Section 25, Town 23, Range 10, in the township which now bears his .name. The present home farm was pur¬ chased of Joseph Coonts, who was an early settler of this county. Mr.Button filled many positions of trust with credit to himself and satisfaction to his constituents. He was the Treasurer of Ford County at the time of his death* which occurred at Paxton March 22, 1866. Sarah R., his widow, is a daughter of J&oob Hock, an early pioneer of Fountain County, Ind. W. J. Button, the second son, has bought out the heirs of the old homestead, comprising 820 acres, where his mother still resides.

GEORGE CAMPBELL, banker, Piper City, was bom in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1844. He received his education at the High School in Glasgow, and at the age of thirteen years began work in the cashiers office of the North British Railway Com¬ pany, where he remained two and a half years, being promoted to the Passenger Superintendent's Department, and afterward to be Superintendent of freight trains on the system, which position he held until 1872, when he left Scotland and oame to America, settling in Piper City. He engaged in business with Chris. An¬ derson, at Rooerts, until 1878, when he suoceeded to the bank¬ ing business of Messrs. Montelius A Son, in Piper City, which he still continues to ran with excellent success. Mr. Uampbell was married to Miss Jeanie Anderson in 1866.

OBADIAH H. CAMPBELL is a son of James Campbell, a native of New Jersey, who moved to, Northumberland County, Penn., when about fifteen years old, where he died at an advanced age. Our subject was born in Pennsylvania Deoember 17,1811. In 1855, he oame to Indiana, where he lived one year, -and in the spring of 1856, he purchased the property of the heirs of Joshua Trrckel, at TriokeTs Grove, Button Township, Ford Co., Ill. He is one of the. oldest living settlers of this county, and owns and resides on -one of the first settled places in the county or Eastern Illinois. Mrs. Campliell was a native of Pennsylva-. nia, where she was born in 1817. She died February 2,1867. They had a family o£ nine children, eight now living.

LYMAN D. V. CASTLE, livery, Kempton, a son of Londo and . Emeline Castle, was bora in Camden, Oneida County, N. Y., March 4, 1855. On April 25, 1878, he was united in mar¬ riage with Ada W. Brown, at Sannemin, Livingston Co., Ill. They have two children - Iva Adella and Judson. Mr. Castle settled here in November, 1882.

REMEMBRANCE CLARK, Paxton, is a native of New Hampshire. He was bora in Stafford County in 1810, and brought up on a farm among the. Granite Hills. In 1884, he went to Frankfort, Me., where he remained until 1847; then settied in Bangor, Me., being engaged in mercantile business. In I860, he oame to Dlinois, settling in Paxton. He built a house that year, on the east side of Market street He opened a store in this house, which he kept up for several years, and in 1867 built the largest brick business house in Paxton, known as Clark's block. Here he opened his store which he, in company with his son-in-law, Mr. R. Crusen, carried op with good suooees, until he sold out to Mr. Crusen,who is now engaged in the hardware trade. Mr. Clark was married, in 1884, to Henrietta A. Durgin, a native of New Hampshire. They have been blessed with six children, two of whom are now living- - Elisa Ann, wife of R, Crusen, and Mary, wife of H. R. Daggett, of Petoskey, Mich. The business career of Mr. Clark has been that of an exemplary man, and although retired, on account of declining years, with an abundanoe of this world's goods, he bids fair to enjoy many years more the position of honor and respect which is universally given him and his excellent wife by the people of this place.

MILTON H. 'CLOUD, Paxton, the present Master in Chancery, was bora in Hamilton County, Ohio, 1842. His father, Vivian Cloud, was bora in Dearborn County, Ind., in 1812. He was married to Sarah D. Gibson, a native of Penn¬ sylvania, in 1888. The result of this union was a family of twelve children. After his marriage he resided in Hamilton County until 1850, when he came to Illinois and settled in Taze¬ well County. He remained here until 1868, then went to El Paso where he now resides. The subject of our sketch was edu¬ cated at the academy in Washington, III., and afterward at Eureka College. He oommehced the study of law in the Chi¬ cago Law School, and in the winter ,of 1866-67 read law in the office of R. T. k J. J. Cassell, at Metamora, Ill., and was admit¬ ted to the bar at Ottawa in April, 1867. He began the practice of his profession at El Paso, where he remained for two years, then came to this place, where he has since resided. He was elected City Attorney for one term, and by appointment of the County Court was County Attorney in 1872, until the election of a State's Attorney; he is now Master in Chancery. In Octo¬ ber, 1871, he was united in marriage with Alice rolhemus, of El Paso. The result of this marriage has been two children, both girls. In 1862, he enlisted in the Eighty-sixth Illinois In¬ fantry, and was in the army until wounded at the charge at Kenesaw Mountain in June, 1864, when he was honorably discharged and returned home. Mr. Cloud is considered a good and success¬ ful lawyer, possessing a lucrative practice and a fair share of the business in this and .adjoining counties.

P. A. COAL, publisher and proprietor of the Gibson En¬ terprise and Sibley Index , was bora in Washington, Washing¬ ton Co., Penn., November 28, 1854. He is a son of Dr. W. P. T. and Mary (Williams) Coal. His father was a native of Hornellsvjlle, Steuben Co., N. Y., and his mother of Kentucky. Mr. Coal came in 1859, with his parents, to Fremont, III. He never attended the public school, but at the age of about eight years entered the high school at Fremont, on a first-grade certificate, and subsequently attended the State Normal Univer¬ sity, and began teaching school before he Was fourteen years of age. Our subject has taught in McLean, Champaign and Ford Counties for over eleven years. He engaged in the newspaper business at Sibley, 111., in Deoember, 1879, publishing the Sib¬ ley Index y which he still ooutinues to edit. In June, 1888, he moved to Gibson, and started the Gibson Enterprise , which is one of the most flourishing papers in the county. Mr. Coal was married, December 28, 1879, to Sadie Black, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. J. H. Dungan, and a native* of Indiana. Since the above was written, the Sibley Index has passed into the hands of M. T. Hyer.

HON. J. H. COLLIER, Gibson, was bora in Oneida County, State of New York, in 1844. Joseph Collier, father of the sub¬ ject of our sketch, was a native of England, and when a youth of nine years came to America with his parents, who settled in New York State. He removed to Lake County, Ill., in 1855, and is at present making his home with his son, Hon. J. H. Collier, in Gibson. Our subject kept a general store in Hhntiey, McHenry Co., Ill., for several years, and in 1862, at the age of eighteen, he enlisted and served in the army for the Union until 1866, and rose through all the grades of rank to that of Captain of his company. In 1871, Mr. Collier came to Ford County, settling at Gibson, which was then a small village, and embarked in the hardware and agricultural implement business, the first in that line in the town: During his residence here the people have called Mr. Collier from private to public life, and that nis services have been entirely acceptable bis many re-elections will testify. He has served from Town Clerk through the various offioee to Chairman of the Board of Supervisors. He has been elected from this district to the Thirtieth, Thirty-second and Thirty-third General Assemblies, occupying during the Thirtysecond, positions as Chairman of Committee on Labor and Manu¬ facture, and on Committees on Fees, Salaries, Penitentiaries, Militia and Senatorial Apportionment He has the credit among his constituents and brother members of being one of the best workers for the State and National good. Our subject has re¬ cently erected two very fine business rooms in the Opera Block, Gibson, one occupied by himself in the hardware trade, on the same spot where he first began business in 1871. The first wife of Mr. Collier died in 1872; their only child died one week be¬ fore the mother. He married for his seoond wife, in May, 1875, Miss Hattie McClure, daughter of B. H. McClure, one of Drum¬ mer Township's best known citisens. The result of this union has been two children. Mr. Collier is one of our best citisens, and has at all times been strictly identified with the.general busi¬ ness and social interests of Gibson.

FRANC L. COOK, Paxton, son of Col. H. D. Cook, is the present State's Attorney, and one of the leading lawyers of Pax¬ ton. His father, Col. Cook, was bora in Oneida County, N. Y., in, 1817, and was married to Johanna Hkll, a native of that county, in 1840. They removed to McLean County, HI., in 1858, and this has been their home, with the exception of some time passed in Woodford County. He was elected to the Legis¬ lature in 1860, and in 1862 entered the army as Captain in the Fourth Dlinois Cavalry, and when mustered out bore the rank of Colonel. On his return from the army, he was re-elected to the Legislature, and shortly thereafter was appointed by the Governor Financial Agent for Illinois to settle claims of this State.against the General Government In this position he procured the pay¬ ment of nearly all the amounts claimed, manifesting great business, tact and ability. When the railroad and warehouse oommis¬ sion was organised under act of the Legislature, Col. Cook was appointed by Gov. Beveridge, a member of this board, 'and at its organisation became the Chairman. This position he filled with honor to himself and satisfaction to the people until his deaths which .occurred in 1878. He left a wife, two daughters and two sons. Mrs. Cook and one son, Prof. John Cook, reside at Normal. The daughters, Mrs. A. Sample and Mrs. F. W. Gore, reside in Paxton. This is also the resideqpe of the subject of our sketch, who was bora at the old home in Oneida County, N. Y., in 1842. He* came to Dlinois with the family, and was in the employ of the Dlinois Central Railroad, as agent at Kappa, for four years. He was in the employ of this State at Washing¬ ton, from 1866 to 1870, collecting soldiers' claims; he also served as Clerk of Committee on Foreign Affairs, Gen. Banks,

Chairman, United States House of Representatives; and as Clerk of Committee on Territories, Senator Cullom, Chairman. Mr. Cook was in the oensus office of 1870, having in charge T&blo No. 8, and supervising the pay of Marshals. - He was educated at Eureka ana Knox Colleges, and graduated from the Columbia Law College at Washington, and admitted to the bar in 1871. He began the practice of nis profession in Paxton in 1872. Mr. Cook has served as City Attorney one term, and, as before stated, is the present State's Attorney of Ford County. In 1870, he was united in marriage with Mias Kate Anderson, of Blooming¬ ton. She is a.lady of exoellent culture, as visitors to their pleas¬ ant home in Paxton can testify.

JOHN H. DUNGAN was among the first settlers of Ford County, having settled on the southwest quarter of Section 13, Town 28, Range 7, now Drummer Township. He owned at one time, in addition to the homestead, the southeast quarter of Sec¬ tion 14. Our subject is a son of John R. and Ellenor Dungan, natives of Kentucky, who settled in Jefferson County, Ind., in 1811, where they resided till death overtook them. John R. Dungan died at the age of sixty-five. His widow was aged eigh¬ ty-four at the time of her death. Our subject was bora in Jef¬ ferson County, Ind., and educated at South Hanover. In 1842, he was united in marriage with Mary A. Fay, of Portage County, Ohio, daughter of Hon. Basset Fay, of Massachusetts. His home was in sight of that of the late Hon. J. A. Garfield, with whom he volunteered to go to the war, but physical disability prevented the enlistment He was one of the delegates from Portage Coun¬ ty who nominated Garfield for the State Senate, his first public position. After being rejected as a soldier, Mr. Dungan con¬ cluded to remove to Ford County, Dl., and improve lands pur¬ chased bv him in 1856. Thereupon in the fall of 1861, with his five motherless children, poor tools and little money, he located on the wild prairie. It was a hard life for the pioneer as for in¬ stance corn would be hauled to Paxton and sold for 10 cents a bushel, and cotton cloth purchased at 60 cents a yard, coffee, 40 to 60 oents a pound, and other necessaries in like proportion. On one occasion ten bushels of oorn were traded for one bushel of wild gooseberries. Schools, churches, mills, etc. were few and far between. He contributed toward the building of the first mill and the first church at Paxton, and believes he has a little stock in nine other churches in the county. He has four chil¬ dren living,*all married. Two reside in Kansas, the others in Iowa, and all in oomfortable circumstances. One son, the young¬ est, died and was buried in Gibson Cemetery. He has a fine brick residence, large frame barn, extensive orchard and grove, and farm well hedged; he built the fourth house in the town of Gibson; has been engaged in the grain and seed business for fifteen years. Mr. Dungan, by reason of his age, has retired fron^ active business, and calmly awaits the time when the final summons comes, and his remains are laid away in the Gibson Cemetery, where he has selected the place and erected a monu¬ ment.

JOHN C. DUNHAM, Paxton, was bora in Tolland County, Conn., July, 1881, son of Rev. E. and R. (Herris) Dunham, natives of Tolland County, and both children of Revolutionary sires. Mr. Dunham reoeived a New England school and academic education. At the age of twenty-two years, he went to Canada, where he pmeticea dentistry and obtained a medical education. From Canada he dame to Loda, Iroquois Co., Ill., in 1861, and here .continued the practice of dentistry for several yeare, and in 1875 started in the newspaper business, publishing the Loda Register , at Loda. Our subject had several adventures in the newspaper line during his earlier years. Mr. Dunham is at present pub¬ lishing the Eastern Illinois Register , at Paxton, Ill., in connec¬ tion with the Loda Register. He was twice married; first, to Miss Harriett McBuraey, a native of Peterboro, Canada. She died in 1878, and in 1880 Mr. Dunham was again married, on this occasion to Elisabeth G. Knapp, a native of Memphis, Tenn.

MERTON DUNLAP, Paxton, was born at Leyden, Cook Co., Dl., October 18, 1845, and has always lived in this State. He is a son of Hon. M. L. andiEmeline (Pieroe) Dunlap, natives of New York State, but who came to Dlinois in 1886. Our sub¬ ject's father was a well-known and successful fruit grower and nurseryman. For twenty-two years he was the agricultural cor¬ respondent of the, Chicago Tribune , over the nom de plume of " Rural," and for many years editor of the Illinois Farmer. He held many offices of trust, and was a member of the State Legis¬ lature when his county (Cook) had but four members. The fam¬ ily removed to Champaign County in 1857, where the father died in 1875. The mpther still lives at the old homestead at Savoy, with which is connected one of the largest orchards in the State. Merton reoeived his early education in the public schools, subse¬ quently attending the Dlinois College at Jacksonville. He has a practical knowledge of the German language, having spoken it from childhood. On attaining his majority, he became a member of the nursery firm of M. L. Dunlap k Sons, Champaign County, where he continued until 1872, when he removed to Patton Township, Ford County, and there engaged in the same business. In 1878, the question of excessive charges by the railroads agi¬ tated tiie farmers and business men of the State. Mr. Dunlap took an active interest in this-issue, becoming Secretary of the Patton Township Farmers' Club, and also Secretary of the Ford County Farmers' Association. In August of that year, he was, to his great surprise, and without any solicitation on his part, nominated for County Clerk. There were several candidates be¬ fore the convention for that office, and no one having a majority, Mr. Dunlap, who was Secretary of the convention, was taken up and nominated almost unanimously. He was elected in the fol¬ lowing November. At his second and third nominations, he had no opposition in his own party, and at his third election his political opponents made no nominations against him, and placed his name upon their tickets. This indorsement by the people, without regard to party, was a recognition of Mr. Dunlap's ability and fidelity as a public officer. During a service of ten years in his position as County Clerk, he has omlected and paid into the county treasury fees amounting to more than $7,000 above the allowance for salary. In 1880, the Board of Supervisors, recog¬ nising the increase of the business of his office, and as a matter of justice, voted to him the sum of $500 per year as clerk hire for the two remaining years of that term. His salary having been, as usual, fixed previous to his election, Mr. Dunlap declined to accept this extra allowance, but continued to pay his assistants out of his own salary. This action on his part the more firmly settled the public confidence already so strongly manifested in him. Immediately following his second election, expecting to retire from public office at the close of that term, Mr. Dunlap be¬ gan the study of law with Alfred Sample, Esq., employing all his spare hours at night in pursuit of his studies. In 1880, he was examined and admitted to the practice of the law by the Su¬ preme Court of this State, standing fourth in a class of thirty? three. Feeling that his entire services are due the people so long as he occupies his present official position, he has declined to make any effort to build up a law practice. Mr. Dunlap is a Methodist, having attended that church from youth, and for many years has been Superintendent of the Paxton Methodist Episco¬ pal Sunday School. He is a member and Secretary of the Pax¬ ton School Board. His tastes are of a literary character, and his library, where he spends nearly all of his leisure time, is quite large and very carefully selected. His chief pleasure is to be at home with his family. He married, September 26, 1867, Miss Mattie L. Beecher, a native of Connecticut, but more re¬ cently a resident of Champaign County, Ill. They have had three children - Harry, Edith and Cora. Edith, a bright child and of amiable disposition, died in 1881. Harry graduated, June ; 1884, from the Paxton High School, where Cora is still a pupil. Naturally obliging and accommodating, a true gentleman in all his relations with the public, putting forth every effort for the proper discharge of his official duties, Merton Dunlap is deserv¬ edly one of the most popular men ever called upon to devote his time and talents to the public welfare.

GEORGE S. EGGLESTON, lumber dealer, Gibson, son of Abram and Sally (Hoskins) Eggleston, was born iu St. Law¬ rence County, N. Y., May 25, 1888. In 1867, in Brooklyn, N. Y., he was united in marriage with Josephine Gerald, of Randolph, Mass. They have had five children - Warren N. (died in Gibson in 1882), Elbert Lynn, Myron Lee, Forrest C. and Wyvil Walker.

MATTHEW ELLIOTT (deceased) was born March 4, 1799, in the District of Columbia. When about twenty-one years old, he came West to Ohio, where he remained until the spring of 1850; then came to Ford County, III. (then Vermilion), and en¬ tered land in the southeast quarter of Section 25, and moved his family here from Ohio in the spring of 1852. He purchased the home place-of Benjamin Stites, who entered the land and made the first improvements where Franklin Holloway now lives, in Button Township. Mr. Elliott died August 23, 1881. They have a family of five children. W. H. H. Elliott owns and re¬ sides on the old home place. Mrs. Annie Elliott, widow of Mat¬ thew Elliott, and mother of W. H. H., is still living at the ripe old age of seventy-four, and makes her home iu Champaign City, HI.

JOSEPH P. GRAHAM, Roberts, is the youngest and only surviving son of A. B. and Louisa (Cole) Graham. He was born in Franklin County, Ohio, August 13, 1859. He moved with his parents to Warren County, IU., in 1866, and to Ford County in 1867, settling on Section 20. Here the subject of this sketch and his father own a finely improved farm of' 200 acres, pleasantly situated two miles from Roberts. Two years ago they erected their handsome residence (a sketch of which is shown in this work), the finest bouse in Lyman Township, beau¬ tifully located on a natural elevation commanding an extensive view of the surrounding oountry. Mr. Graham is Town Clerk of Lyman, and in all his business transactions has ever proven himself honorable and trustworthy, and one of the active and progressive farmers of this county.

DAVID W. GREEN, farmer, P. O. Gibson City, is ai son of David and Sarah (Skeed) Green; born in Ross County, Ohio, August 1, 1827. His parents settled in this county Octo¬ ber 5,1870, and he came seven days later. On August 15, 1851, he was united in marriage with Augusta Hynes in Ross County, Ohio. They have thirteen children - Herbert, Melvina, Julia, John, Victoria, George, Anna, Lincoln, Emma, E4a, Wilbert, Emmitt, Josie.

HENRY C. HALL, grain dealer, Paxton, was born in Fount¬ ain County, Ind., October 10, 1841, son of* James D. and Elisa (Wisman) Hall, former a native of Ross County, Ohio, latter of Virginia. At the age of three years, our subjeqt moved with his parents to WarrenCounty, where they remained four years; then came to Ford County, Ill., settling at Henderson's Grove, in Button Township. Henry C. was educated in the public schools, and in the winter of 1860 began teaching school in the Campbell District, teaching in this and the Blanchard District until 1863. In 1861, he moved to Paxton, where he now resides, and in 1865 went into partnership with his father, under the firm name of J. D. A H. C. Hall. They bought grain and stock, shipping to Chicago. In 1871,_ Mr. Hall went into partnership with D. H. Snyder, of Gibson. They had the honor of shipping the first oar of grain from that place to Chicago, also the first to ship over the L. E. A W. to Toledo. Hall A Snyder also shipped large quantities of stock. In July, 1874, they sent forty car loads of cattle and hogs from Gibson to Chicago. Mr. Snyder withdrew from the firm in 1881, and Mr. T. Ross is now in company with Mr. Hall. They have the only elevator in Gibson. Our subject was mar¬ ried, October 10* 1872, to Mary H. Pierpont, daughter of Leon¬ ard Pierpont, and a native of Litchfield County, Conn. They have three children, all girls. Mr. Hall has held the office of Town Clerk three years, Township Treasurer eighteen years, and City Alderman four years. He is one of the prominent and re¬ liable business men of Paxton.

ELI HARVEY, Siblev, was born on his father's farm in Clinton County, Ohio, in 1&39. He received his education in a log schoolhouse. In 1857, he emigrated to Malden, Ill., where he resided on a farm until 1860, when he removed to Loda, Ill. Here he commenced a career as overseer of a large landed estate, a position he has held for twenty-two consecutive years. His position at Loda was overseer, general manager and paymaster of Adam Smith's 2,000-acre farm, a position he held until 1875, with the exception * of the year 1867, when he came to Burr Oaks farm to oversee the planting of hedge fences of nearly 100 miles in extent, and as a fact worth mentioning here, Mr. Harvey put in the first hedge plant in Sullivant Township with his own hand. In 1875, he became overseer of the Burr Oaks farm, and has held that position to th'e present time. Mr. Har¬ vey may be said to be in reality a self-made roan. His educa¬ tion is a broad and generous one. His merits have been repeat¬ edly recognised by his employers, and the people have held a continual claim upon him, as we find him holding the several positions of School Director for twelve consecutive years. Town¬ ship Constable for six years, Overseer of Highways for six years. He was the first Town Clerk of Sullivant Township, which obtained its first organization through his efforts. He is one of our best citizens, and takes a pride in the advancement of all public interests.

LESTER S. HEATH, hardware, Melvin, was born near Lockport, Will Co., Ill., February 14, 1848, and is a son of Joseph and Achsah Heath, who settled in Will County in 1838. On December 28, 1870, our subject was united in marriage with Mary Jane Brown, of Joliet, Ill. They have four children - Harry Lester, Lizzie A., Amey B. and Joseph Rolla. Mr. Heath settled in Melvin in 1873.

JOHN F. G. HELMER, Paxton, Deputy Circuit Clerk, was born near the city of Ullrecehamn, 8weden, November 14, 1849. In 1867, he came to this country, settling in Paxton. He was educated in the public schools of his native place, and latterly in the colleges at Grenna and Jonkoping, Sweden. In 1869, he entered the employ of S. D. Cooper, druggist, in this city, and remained here until 1881. He was appointed Coroner of Ford County from 1874 to 1878, which office he filled with satisfaction to all. In 1881, he was appointed Deputy Circuit Clerk under Weaver White, which position he still retains. He is also agent for the leading steamship lines to Europe. Mr. Helmer is very popular in thiq, county, and is one of Paxton's prominent young men. He is considered to be the best penman among the county officers. He was married, June 4, 1879, to Augusta W. Frederickson, a native of Grenna, Sweden.

CHARLES B. HENDERSON. Samuel E. Henderson, father of the subject of this sketch, was born in Virginia. He moved to Logan County, Ohio, where he lived the remainder of his days. He died in the winter of 1877, having reached the patriarchal age of ninety-one years. . Charles E. Henderson, the subject of our sketch, was born in Loudoun County, Va., February 3, 1825. He went with his parents to Ohio, and there remained until he became a young man, receiving such education as the times and locality afforded. In 1850, he went overland to Cali¬ fornia, remaining three years, then returned to his old home in Ohio, where he was married, May 23, 1854, to Miss Ann Boggs, daughter of William Boggs, one of the early pettlers of Logan* County, Ohio, and a native of Pickaway County, Ohio.- He died at the age of eighty-two at his old home in Logan County, Ohio, where he had lived for more than fifty years. In 1855, Mr. and Mrs. Henderson came to Decatur, Dl., where he engaged in the grain business until 1858, when they again returned to their pld home in Logan County, Ohio. Here they remained until 1865, when be located in Ford County, where he has engaged in vari¬ ous avocations, chiefly farming and dealing in stocks. He was one of the incorporators of the First National Bank of Paxton in 1871. Upon his present home farm in Patton Township is a station of the Lake Erie & Western Railroad called Henderson Station, where our subject has a store and commodious grain house and telegraph office. The store and office of the railroad are under the management of his son Harry.

JAMES OSCAR HUGHES, pharmacist, Gibson, son of Lewis H. and Elizabeth Jane Hughes, was born in Woodford County, Ill., April 29, 1849. On August 18, 1873, he was united in marriage with Emma G. Livingston, at Ureka, Ill. They have one child - Walter Guy. Mr. Hughes came to this county in 1875, and in 1878 the firm of Hughes & Thompson succeeded J. R. Lott, druggist. In August, 1882, Mr. Hughes bought the interest of his partner, S. A. Thompson, since which time he has conducted the drug business alone.

JAMES KEMP, Kempton, P. O. son of Wright and Eliza¬ beth Kemp, was born in Kendall County, Ill., November 24, 1858, and came to Ford County with his parents in 1866. He was united in marriage with Carrie M. Switzer July 31, 1877, at a place called Eldridgeville, Kankakee Co., Ill. They have three children - Mary B., Ada B., Myrtie E. Mr. Kemp lives on Section 1, Sullivan Township, Livingston County, about a half mile west from the old home.

was one of the early settlers in Rogers Township, Ford County, having settled on Section* 81, in March, 1866. He* is a son ol John and Betty Kemp, and was born March 18, 1823, in New¬ tonmore, Cheshire, England. On January 22, 1843, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Butterworth, in Middleton, England. In the year 1848, he bade adieu to his wife and three children and set sail for America, landing in New Orleans after a voyage of seven weeks from Liverpool. After a time, he made his way to Kendall County, Ill., where he had an uncle, for whom he engaged to work by the month as a farm hand. The following year he wrote for his wife and family to come to him, and in due time Mrs. Kemp with two children (one child having died since his departure from home) landed in New York, and by way of the canal and the lakes reached Morris, Grundy Co., Ill., where the re-union of husband and father with wife and family took place, A farm was rented in Kendall County, on which they settled, and for many years farmed on shares as renters. About the beginning of the war, Mr. Kemp purchased a farm, and paid a considerable money down. His corn crop was immense that year, and could not be marketed at more than 15 cents per bushel, which so discouraged him that he permitted the land to go back to the owner before him. This farm he rented one year, and an early frost materially injured the com, yet what was marketable was sold for more than $1 per bushel. The next year, he lived on a farm in Grundy County, near Nettle Creek. He purchased 160 acres of land on what is known as Grand Prairie, Ford County, and in the winter of 1865-66, he hauled lumber for a house and other buildings to be put up the following spring. On March 1,1866, the family, with house¬ hold goods and stock, left neighbors and friends in Grandy County for the new home in Ford. The roads were in a terrible con¬ dition, and streams were overflowing their banks. The journey was by way of Dwight, across the unbroken prairie, till they reached the residence of Mr. Shoemaker, where a stop was made for a few days, after which they took up their abode in a shanty three miles from the location of their new home, where the family remained till the father and Mr. Shoemaker had built the new house, known far and wide in its day as the large white boose. Some two or three years after this, he purchased 1*20 acres lying opposite, at $12.50 per acre. The town of Kempton, a station on the Kankakee & Southwestern Branch of the Illinois Central Railroad was laid out by Mr. Kemp in 1878, and so named in his honor as he materially advanced th« interests of the residents of this section by securing right of way through Rogers Town¬ ship. He afterward purchased 320 acres of land west of Kemp¬ ton, in Livingston County, on which his sons John and James now reside. Mr. Kemp purchased a house and lot in Kankakee in 1883, where he now lives with wife and youngest boy, Wright E., enjoying rest as only those can that have labored hard and earned it. Mr. and Mrs. Kemp were the parents of the follow¬ ing children: Sarah, Hannah, Elizabeth Ann, Mary Ann, Elizabeth, James, John, Francis C. and Wright E. The eldest daughter married, and lives in Newton County, Ind., where Mr. Kemp purchased 160 acres of land. The second daughter, Hannah, married Henry Benson in 1869; they live five miles east of the old home. The third daughter married John Clay¬ ton, and lived but about one year. In 1877, the oldest son mar¬ ried, and lives one-half mile west of the home place. November 24. 1879, the second son married, and lives one and ofie-half miles southwest of the old home. Francis C. is a merchant in Kempton.

FRANK G. LOHMAN, Roberts, the present Superintend¬ ent of Schools in Ford County, was born January 7, 1849, in Watertown, Wis.; son of Frank and Sophia (Vick) Lohman. The subject of our sketch received his education in the Northwestern University at WatertoWn, and after finishing his studies there he began teaching school, continuing at it for many years. In July, 1869, Mr. Lohman left Wisconsin and came to Ford County, settling on a farm in Patton Township, where he carried on the business of farming for several years. In 1875, he began teaching school again, and has been connected with school work in this county since. In 1882, he was elected by the citizens to fill the office of County Superintendent of Schools. This office he still holds, having given entire satisfaction to the people. August 22, 1878, Mr. Lohman was united in marriage with Miss Florence B. McCann, a native of Henry County, 111. This union has been blessed with two children. Mr. Lohman is at present making his home in Roberts, this county.

ALEXANDER MoELROY, Paxton, was born October 27, 1886, in Greene County, Ohio. He attended the common school and labored on a farm until fourteen years of age, when the death of both of his parents occurred. From that time until December, 1855, he attended the private and high schools of his native county, and then entered Antioch College at Yel¬ low Springs, Ohio, where he remained until the spring of 1857. Horace Mann was President of 'the latter institution during the time Mr. McElroy was a pupil there. The subject of this sketch came to Monmouth, HI., in April, 1857, and there read law with J. G. Madden until August, 1859. He removed to Paxton in November of the same year, forming a partnership with Nathan Simons, then County Clerk. Mr. McElroy was admitted to the bar by the Supreme Court in 1861. Subsequently he held part¬ nership with John F. Yoss and George Toms. In 1875, he moved on a farm near Paxton on account of poor health and other causes, where he remained until June, 1878. In the spring of the latter year he was elected Justice of the Peace for Patton Township, and was re-elected to the same office in 1881. Mr. McElroy and Mary E. Hanley were united in marriage, Jan¬ uary 10,1865. They have two children - John II. and Mat^aret G.; the latter is usually known by the pet name of Daisey.

M. K. McDOWELL, live stock, etc., Gibson, a son of Thomas G. and Elizabeth (Keeney) McDowell, was born in Montgomery County, Ind., April 13, 1841, and settled with his parents in Livingston County, Ill., in 1843. On September 27,18o6, he was united in marriage with Mary Morgan, of Strawn, Livingston County. They have two children - Frank B. and Thomas C. Mr. McDowell settled in Gibson in 1878.

FRANK C. McDOWELL, live stock, etc., Gibson* a son of Thomas G. and Elisabeth (Keeney) McDowell, was born in Mont¬ gomery County, lnd., March 16, 1839; was united in marriage with Laura Morgan, of Strawn, III., March 29, 1871. They had one child, Stellie, who died February 8, 1876. Mr. Mc¬ Dowell settled in Gibson in 1873.

McDOWELL BROS. This firm was formed in 1866, and has continued uninterruptedly to this time. This firm have during the time been engaged in farming, buying and selling stock and butchering. For thirteen years past, their business has been dealing in live stock and butchering exclusively. This is the oldest firm in this line of business in the city.

HUGH MEHARRY was born in Connersville, Penn., February 12, 1797, and the next year moved with his parents to Adams County, Ohio, where he resided until 1828, when he married Miss Susan Ambrose, and afterward moved to Mont¬ gomery County, Ind., near Shawnee Mound, where he and his new bride settled for life. By industry and economy, and the great opportunity then offered for buying cheap lands of a very superior quality, he amassed a large fortune. His father died before he left Ohio. About two years after the son moved to Indiana, his mother also moved from Ohio with six more sons and one daughter, and settled at Shawnee Mound, near Hugh's. The brothers and sisters all married and settled in the neighborhood, and like their brother Hugh were very prosperous, and became wealthy, notwithstanding their large donations to churches, col¬ leges and other benevolent institutions. Prominent among his philanthropic deeds, was the endowing of a professorship in the Central Tennessee College, Nashville. He contributed largely in the building and endowing of the Asbury, now the DePouw College, of Greencastle, Ind., and the Wesleyan University of Bloomington, Ill. Wh$n this part of Illinois was comparatively new, Hugh Meharry came out here and secured a large amount of land. On his first trip through this part of Illinois, which is now Ford County, he remained over night at Ten Mile Grove with John Crothers, in a log house yet standing on the farm now owned by John M. Hanley, Esq. During the evening he got into conversation with Mr. Crothers, and Mr. Meharry made some inquiry about the health, and the morals generally of the people. Crbthers became excited, and jumped up and slapping his hands together, said : " I have lived here for sixteen years, and I thank God I have never had a preacher or doctor in my house." He l.ke his father raised a large family, all the mem¬ bers of which he settled in Illinois on good farms, excepting one son and daughter, the former owning and occupying the old homestead at Shawnee Mound, and the latter, to whom he gave

I, 400 acres of land near Ambia, Ind. When Mr. Mehfcrry was about seventy-three years old, his *wife having died some three years before, he left his old home and came to live with his chil¬ dren in Illinois, making his home with his son, F. Meharry, and his son-in-law, Robert Blacks took. He died in his eighty-fourth year, while on a visit to his son-in law, Rev. John A. Kumler, Bement, III. His remains were brought to Paxton and funeral services held in the Methodist Episcopal Church on the 27th day of December, 1881. llis remains were then taken and in¬ terred in the family cemetery at Shawnee Mound, Ind. He was an active, faithful and consistent member of the Methodist Episco¬ pal Church for sixty-nine years, and died in the full assurance that he was going to join loved ones who were safely landed on the other shore. Truly it can be said of him in the language of the Psalmist, " Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord, they rest from their labor and their works do follow them."

FRANK MEHARRY, Patton Township, was born in Mont¬ gomery County, Ind., August 10, 1831. Hugh Meharry, father of Frank, was born near Connersville, Penn., February 12,1797, but was raised in Ohio. Susan Ambrose Meharry, wife of Hugh Meharry and mother of Frank, was born in Virginia, but came with her parents to Highland County, Ohio, while a child, and grew up to womanhood in that county. She died in 1835 in Mont¬ gomery County, Ind. November 9, 1854, the subject of our sketch was married to Miss Margaret Blackstock, a native of Canada, and sister of Robert Blackstock, of the Ford County Bank. After his marriage, Mr. Meharry lived in Montgomery County for five years. In 1859, he left there and came to Ford County, purchasing 640 acres of fine land of Joseph Coonts, which lays four miles west of Paxton, and is one of the choice farms of Ford County. This farm is well improved and upon it stands one of the finest residences in the county. Charles Me¬ harry, brother of Frank, came to Ford County in 1869, and re¬ sides four miles west of Paxton on a beautiful farm.

.JOHN H. MOFFETT, Paxton, was born in Clayton, Adams Co., Ill., in 1857, son of Samuel R. and Mary (Strong) Moffett, natives of South Carolina. In 1834, Samuel R. Moffett left South Carolina, and settled in Monroe County, Ind. In 1855, the family removed to Adams County, Ill. Remaining here a period of two years, they returned to Indiana, and in April, 1865, they came to this place. The subject of our sketch, re¬ ceived a good common school education, and subsequently attend¬ ed Monmouth College two years; he began his law studies with pany with Mr. Kinnear in this city, which oontinned until May, 1883, when the partnership was dissolved by mutual agreement, Mr. Kinnear removing to Seattle, Washington Territory. Mr. Moffett is now associated with Judge Tipton, of Bloomington. In 1881, he was elected City Attorney of Paxton, which office he filled for two years. In April, 1878, he was married to Mar¬ tha S. Grey, daughter of Samuel Gray, of Loda, Ill. The father of our 'subject diea in Paxton in 1879, his mother resides in this place. Mr. Moffett is a young man of integrity, industry and of unquestionable ability.

JOHN A. MONTELIUS, Piper City, real estate and grain merchant, is one of the prominent and popular business men of Ford County, well and favorably known to the public for his in¬ nate integrity of character, and his firmness in the advocacy of all good principles conducive to a high moral standard and a religious life. He was bom in Union County, Penn., May 29, 1844. Here he passed the days of his youth, and when eighteen years old began clerking in a store at Center Hall, Penn. Subse¬ quently he was in the employ of a National Bank in Philadel¬ phia. In 1866, he left Pennsylvania and came to Illinois, lo¬ cating at Piper City, Ford County, and with Dr. Piper opened the second general store in the new village. In 1873, he en¬ gaged in the banking business, and started the Piper City Bank, which he continued with good success until 1878, when he sold out to George Campbell. Since then Mr. Montelius has turned his attention principally to the real estate business, and is at the present time the largest land owner in the county, owning over 4,000 acres. He, in company with his brother, Edward, is con¬ ducting an agricultural warehouse, and they are also engaged in the grain business. In 1867, Mr. Montelius was united in mar¬ riage with Miss Kate Gast, a native of Pennsylvania. The re¬ sult of this union has been a family of six children, five of whom are living. Our subject has one of the finest places in Piper City, and is one of her most valued citizens.

S rated to Vigo or Parke Counties, Ind., when David waa about iree years old. They remained there only a few years. In 1823, the family moved to Fountain County, Ind., where Thomas Patton died. December 10, 1844, David was married to Miss -Jane Cade, daughter of William Cade, who settled in Fountain County in 1823. November 2, 1854, David Patton came to Illi¬ nois and settled in Button Township, then in Vermilion County. Here he resided until his death, February 29, 1880. He en¬ tered 480 acres of choice land in Section 33, Town 28, Range 14 west, in Button Township. There are eight children, all living near the old homestead, where the Widow Patton still resides.

WILLIAM H. PELLS. Biographies are the material of which history is made, and it will be found that when the history of this great country of ours, the home of, and the structure of the middle classes, is finally written up, that there will be ample material for the ornamental part of the edifice, but the face brick of the solid wall will be of suoh as is here presented, of good, an¬ cestral clay, tempered by industry and perseverance, molded in integrity and benevolence, and burned in necessity and responsi¬ bility. As such, the subject of this sketch, a self-made man, the best exponent of our nation's glory, and an encouragement and inspiration to all hofiest endeavor, stands a worthy example. William H. Pells was born in Poughkeepsie, N. Y., June 12, 1813. His education, which had been in the public schools of his native city, was terminated by the financial failure of persons for whom his father had indorsed, and he, at the early age of thirteen, was thrown on his own resources. He went to the city of New York, and began life for himself as the driver of a milk wagon. After six months, he obtained a situation as clerk in a grocery store, which he held until the spring of 1880. He then sought fortune in the western part of New York, then " out West." Reaching Palmyra, he found himself without a dollar, and then for three months recruited his finances by chopping wood and clearing lands. Moving on to Ridgway, he continued with his ax, and while but a boy made his mark on some of the best farms of that township. On the 19th of November, 1881, he began clerking for H. Francis, at Ridgeway. By industry and frugality, fortune's servants, he here laid the foundation of his amide fortune, which classes him, if not now, certainly will, with his energy and promised lease of life, among the millionaires. With the slow earnings of his position invested in the then cheap lands of that district, ne began to as utne the responsibilities of, and to take a lead in real life by, first, joining himself, in 1886, in the holy bonds of matrimony to Maria B. Whitaker, a native of Norfolk, England; second, after *a ten years' clerkshij), by be¬ coming a full partner in the business, in 1841, and finally, in 1846, sole proprietor, in which capacity he conducted a very successful business until 1851, when he sold a one-half interest to a brother, and the whole in 1856, thus closing his career as a merchant. In the same year, the Medina & Alabama Plank Road Company, having lost heavily on the same, Mr. Pells pur¬ chased that part leading from RidgeWay to Medina, binding himself to re-build it, and to save the company harmless from its obligations under its charter. This he did against the judgment of all, who thought that the nature of the ground was such that the cost of construction and maintenance would be a ruinous venture. However, he re-built it with stone and gravel in a most thorough manner, and at great expense. It soon was recognized as one of the best roads in the state, there probably not being more than one equal, that between Albany and Troy. This he operated until the charter expired in 1881, it pavings handsome yearly revenue from the beginning. In 1856 he journeyed westward, and, in company with R. R. Murdock ana Leander Britt, purchased and laid out Prospect City, now Paxton. He secured, in 1859, the organisation of Ford County, and in the same year the choice of Paxton by ballot to be the county seat. He gave muoh of his time, energy and means to the town he had founded, and many of its best features of business enterprise, churches and schools are due largely to his good judgment and liberal support. In 1876, during a period of rest and recreation at Petoskev, Mich., he became impressed with the salubrious cli¬ mate, the fertile soil, and the general attractiveness of the situa¬ tion, and, guided by his sound judgment, invested in some 18,000 acres of land. He has since seen the county in which it was located, Emmet, grow from a wilderness, inhabited by 100 whites and 1,100 Indians in 1875, to 7,000 whites and 800 Indians in 1880, and now there are about 12,000 whites. The extension of the G. R. k I.^R R. northward in 1882 passed near the center of Mr. Pells' tract of land, and a flourishing little village, named in honor of itsproprietor Pel Is ton, is situated on the same. There were born to William and Maria B. Pells three children, two of whom only survive - Hannah W., wife of Col. Charles Bogardus, of Paxton, with whom Mr. Pells makes his home, and Edgar Z. Pells, of Ridgeway, N. Y. This truly happy union was severed after a continuance of only nine years by the death of the wife and mother, and since that sad event almost forty years ago, Mr. Pells has made the memory of her, who was the partner and sol¬ ace of bis early trials, the companion of his old age. Such is the biography of one whom Ford County delights to honor; a man of sterling integrity, with a heart that is moved by generous impulses, a purse well filled, that opens to the cry of the needy, letting not the left hand know what the right hand doeth, and with a judgment clear and correct. He is a man with a strong sense of duty, a perception that grasps the future, a will that ar¬ gues and works out its cause, and a mind that grows with its problem. He is a faithful husband, a loving father, and a suc¬ cessful business man.

JAMES W. RAMSAY, Piper City, the efficient and nopular Sheriff of Ford County, was born in Adams County, Ohio, in 1847. His father, William C. Ramsay, was a native of Adams County, born in 1826. He * as a carpenter by trade. In 1852, he left Ohio, and settled ten miles northwest of Bloomington, Mc¬ Lean Co., Ill.; he was married to Mary Jane Baldridge, a native of Adams County, Ohio. The result of this union was nine children, eight now living. James W., or u Will," as he is familiarly called, was educated in the public schools, and at the age of seventeen, enlisted in the One Hundred and Forty-fifth, Company K, 100-day men, in 1864, from Pontiac, Livingston County. In 1866, he was married to Mary E. Henry, a native of Ashland County, Ohio. This union has been blessed with a family of five children, one of whom is dead. After his mar¬ riage, our subject lived two years in Livingston County, and then moved to Piper City, this county. In 1872, he wa9 appointed Police Constable of Piper City, also was Deputy Sheriff under S. B. Lyman for eight years, and upon the latter retiring from office, he was elected to fill his place as Sheriff of Ford County ; his father died in 1867 in Chatsworth, 111., and was buried in Piper City, where his widow now resides. Mr. Ramsay is a very popular man in this county, having won the confidence of all by his strict attention to business and duty. As an officer, he is efficient and thorough, discharging all duties promptly and fearlessly. He makes the Sheriff's office what it shoula be, the protector of right and punisher of wrong.

EDWIN RICE, deceased, was born in Worcester County, Mass., December 21, 1834, son of Silas and Almira (Corey) Rice, former a native of Massachusetts. They were marriea September 12, 1825, and afterward resided at Ashburnham, Mass., where Mrs. Rice died February 26, 1848. In this small New England Village, our subject grew up to manhood. He attended an academy at New Ipswich, and later in Oxford, Mass., drawn to the latter institution by his regard for the Principal, Dr. Homer Hitchcock, now of Kalamazoo, Mich. In the spring of 1855, he came to Chicago and secured a position with D. B. Fisk k Co., where he remained only a short time; he then lo¬ cated at Lisbon, Kendall Co., Ill., and obtained a position in a dry goods store with John Moore. After several years of con¬ stant attention and close application to business, he succeeded in forming a copartnership in the mercantile trade with Mr. Moore. This partnership lasted but about one year, when Mr. Rice was compelled through failing health to retire from the dry goods bus¬ iness, and, during the remainder of his residence in Lisbon, deyoted his time to fanning, trading and other out-door pursuits. Our subject was married, August 10,1859, to Miss M. Almarine Moore, who was* raised ana educated in New York State,-a daughter of Schuyler Moore, a native of Connecticut, and who when quite young came to New York, and located at Skaneateles, where he resided until his death, which occurred in 1863. Mr. Rice spent one year in California, in 1861-65, looking after considerable property belonging to the estate of his deceased mother-in-law; and upon returning East was employed one year with a leading grain firm at Morris, Ill. In December, 1866, Mr. Rice located in Paxton, Ford Co., III., where he purchased the " Fredericks Elevator," and here engaged permanently in the grain trade, and from this time until his death managed his business in the careful, judicious and systematic manner that was certain to bring success. From time to time he extended his business and engaged in other enterprises, being one of the in¬ corporators of the first bank under national charter in Ford County, which bank surrendered its charter in 1876, and re or-

S nixed as the Ford County Bank, in which he waa a partner at e time of his decease, and was quite extensively connected with the Linseed Oil Work of Toledo, Ohio. Personal super¬ vision, keen industry, simple and eoonomical habits of life were his wont, and he was fair and honorable in every transaction. Being without family, he and his genial wife have at all times extended the hospitality of their roof to the deserving and needy. For sev¬ eral years, Mr. Rice was an invalid, and had been a great suf¬ ferer at times. He died April 24, 1884, after two months' illness and intense suffering.

ALFRED SAMPLE, so well known to the citizens of Cen¬ tral Illinois as having attained to honorable distinction in the legal profession, was born in Butler County, Ohio, November 27, 1846. His parents were James Sample, a nativq of Ken¬ tucky, and Jane (Beard) Sample, who was a native , of Virginia. His father, recently deceased, was a farmer and stock-dealer, and engaged in railroad business, and was well known in the Western country as an upright man and an excellent citizen. Our subject received his early training on the farm and at the country school, which he attended until about eleven years of age, when he gave to agricultural pursuits his entire attention. In the year 1857, he removed with his parents to Livingston County, Ill. Novem¬ ber, 1868, Mr. Sample, although but sixteen years of age, en¬ listed in Company G, One Hundred and Twenty-ninth Regiment Illinois Infantry, and immediately went into active service. He was in Gen. Sherman's campaign and march to Atlanta. In, the battle of Res&ca, he was severely and at that time supposed to be mortally wounded. He was shot in both arms and breast, on account of which, being unfitted for duty, he was honorably discharged December 6, 1864. On returning from the army, he entered Eureka College, where he remained three years, going thence to Monmouth, where he completed his education, having taken a special course in both colleges and having given special attention to the classics and mathematics. While at college, he taught school at different intervals during vacations, and for one

{rear after leaving college. Mr. Sample then began the study of aw under the instruction of Col. R. G. Ingersoll, then of Peoria, but now of Washington, D. C., which he continued until 1871, when he was admitted to the bar. During the same year, he came to Paxton, where he has since practiced with marked suc¬ cess, building up an enviable reputation as a lawyer and an active and enterprising citizen. Mr. Sample is a Republican in sentiment, but has not allowed political matters to interfere with his profession; and yet, although he has never sought polit¬ ical preferment, he was chosen a Presidential Elector in the Gar¬ field campaign, and has been State's Attorney for eight years, and City Attorney for four years - facts which testify to his pop¬ ularity. Mr. Sample was married, in September, 1875, to Miss Florence A. Cook, a daughter of Col. Cook, who is well known in State history, and who was brought prominently before the public in our late war. They have one daughter - Florence I. Sample. Mr. Sample has accumulated a handsome property, and, besides his home in Paxton, possesses other lands in, his coun¬ ty. Mr. Sample has won distinction as an attorney in railroad matters. A brief sketch of some of the more important cases will not be out of place here. During the discussion by the people of the railroad law providing for a rate of 3 cents per mile for passenger travel on roads of the class of the Illinois Central, two citizens of Ludlow were ejected from the train because they declined to pay the 4 cents per mile demanded by the company. They secured the services of Mr. Sample, who was satisfied that the company was clearly in the wrong, and that there were con¬ tinual violations of this law - in fact, the companies paid no at¬ tention to it. Shortly after this, a public meeting was held by the citizens of Paxton, at which resolutions were adopted request¬ ing Mr. Sample to take steps for the enforcement of this law. After corresponding with the Railroad and Warehouse Commis¬ sioners, Mr. Sample, in his usual energetic way, began the pre¬ liminary work. A meeting was again held at Paxton, the Com¬ missioners being present. Becoming satisfied that a vigorous prosecution of all violations of this law would speedily follow, the railroad companies decided to reduce their charges to the legal requirement, which has since that time been followed. After this, the Commissioners were troubled by the east and west lines utterly disregarding the law as to unjust discriminations on freight rates. The companies claimed that such lines as extended out of the State were not bound by the law, and defied the Com¬ missioners. Bailey A Swann ell, of Gilman, Ill., manufacturers, were discriminated against in shipping to New York City, a higher rate being charged from Gilman than from Peoria, a city eighty miles farther from New York.

The Commissioners decided to make this a test case, and suit was brought by the Attorney General in the Circuit Court of Iroquois County. This case was transferred to the United States Circuit Court at Chicago. The Commissioners, not feeling sat¬ isfied with the condition of the case, by the consent of the Attor¬ ney General, placed the whole matter in Mr. Sample's hands. Mr. Sample dismissed the case in the United States Court, as there was no probability of reaching it in that court for a long time, owing to the crowded condition of the docket.

A new oase, with a new statement of the complaint, was be¬ gun in the Ford County Circuit Court. The court held that the statute did not apply to transportation from within, but without the State, and sustained a demurrer to the declaration, from which Mr. Sample appealed to the Supreme Court. This court prompt¬ ly decided against the railroad company, and sustained the law in its application to the above case of discrimination. The case was brought back, tried on its merits, the court deciding in favor of the people and fining the defendant. From this, the company took an appeal to the Supreme Court, when the decision of the lower court was affirmed, Judge Walker filing a most elaborate, able and exhaustive opinion in the case.

HIRAM SIBLEY. It is not proposed in this sketch to place before the reader a detailed history of the career of this public-spirited man. That would require a volume in itself.

Hiram Sibley was born in North Adams, Berkshire Co., Maas., February 6, 1807. He remained there until sixteen years of age, and then came to Western New York and resided three years in Lima, Livingston County. He then removed to Mendon, where he established a manufacturing village now known as Sib¬ ley vilie. lie successfully managed a foundry and machine shop in that village for a number of years, and in 1843 was elected Sheriff, at wnich time he removed to Rochester. It is a fact well known that the chief movers of the organization of the Western Union Telegraph resided in Rochester City, and it seems that Mr. Sibley conceived the project, and was the first President. He was the first to advocate the construction of the trans conti¬ nental line of telegraph. Upon proposing this scheme, it met with disfavor from his associates in this city, whereupon he went to New York, and calling a meeting of telegraph men, laid before them his plan for connecting the Atlantic and Pacific by elec¬ tricity. A committee was appointed by the meeting to report upon the proposed plap, and they reported as follows: First, that it was next to impossible to construct such a line; second, that if accomplished, the Indian, would destroy the line in the Territo¬ ries, and lastly, that it would not be a paying enterprise. That was the decision rendered by the assembled wisdom of all the prominent telegraph men in New York City, Cyrus W. Field and Peter Cooper among the number. They, together, endeavored to persuade Mr. Sibley to drop the whole scheme as one utterly impracticable. He replied with his characteristic promptness that he should take tne evening train for Washington and en¬ deavor to get an appropriation for the construction of the line, and that it should be built if he had to do it alone. He went to Washington alone, and in spite of all obstacles obtained the nec¬ essary legislation. The line was constructed and the results show it was a grand conception. Mr. Sibley was President of the Western Union Telegraph Company sixteen years, and was suc¬ ceeded by William Orton. While engaged in promoting the Rus¬ sian extension of the Western Union, our subject visited Russia, where he made some necessary negotiations with the Czar, re¬ ceiving many distinguished honors at the hands of Alexander II. Since resigning the office of President of the Western Union, he has been largely engaged in the construction and man¬ agement of railroads in the Western and Southern States. At present he is regarded as the largest farmer in the world, being the owner of the great " Burr Oaks " farm, formerly known as the " Sullivant farm," which contained 40,000 acres lying in Ford and Livingston Counties, Ill.; is also owner of much farm and city property in this State as well as in Michigan and New York. He has about 81,000,000 invested in his business in Chi¬ cago. Mr. Sibley is a man who is greatly interested in educa¬ tion. He is one of the Trustees of Cornell University; he founded and endowed the Sibley College of mechanical arts at Ithaca, at a cost of 8100,000 ; also Sibley Hall, Library and Mu¬ seum, which he presented to the Rochester University, at Roch¬ ester, N. Y. Mrs. Sibley also manifests deep interest in all mat¬ ters of charity and benevolence, and has given largely to various charitable institutions throughout the country. She has ever cherished with tenderest recollection the place of her nativity, and a few years since erected in her native village, North Adams, Mass., St. John's Episcopal Church, at a cost of 825,000. This fine church edifice stands upon the spot where both Mr. and Mrs. Sibley were born. Although past threescore and ten, Mr. Sib¬ ley still retains the natural vigor of a hardy New England con¬ stitution, and the same active and untiring interest in his large and varied business affairs, which has characterized him through life.

NORMAN E. STEVENS. Paxton, was born in Portage County, Ohio, April 25, 1834. He lived at Franklin Mills (now Kent) in that county until fifteen years old, and then went to Oberlin, Ohio, attending a preparatory school for nearly two* years. At the end of that time he became a printer's apprentice in the office of the Elyria (Ohio) Courier. That office being destroyed by fire some months afterward, he went to Cleveland, Ohio, and served in the same capacity in the office of the Daily Foreet City , edited by Joseph Medill, now of the Chicago Tribune , for about a year, then changed to the Free Democrat. These two papers were afterward merged, making what is now the Cleveland Leader. In this office our subject completed his trade as printer, and in 1852 removed to Ashtabula County, where he purchased the Aehtabula County Democrat, which he sold in 1854, and went to Watertown, Wis., where he became a partner in the firm of Rose A Stevens, publishers of the Chronicle , supporting Fremont, the first Republican candidate for President. In August, 1857, Mr. Stevens removed to Minnesota, where he established the Wabasha Herald , and successfully conducted it for eight years. In January, 1865, he located at Paxton, and established the Record , which he has published since, with the loss of but two issues. In 1879, he was elected to serve in the Thirty-first General Assembly of Illinois, the only time in his life he was ever a candidate for office of any description other than some municipal position filled only as a matter of duty' to the public. Mr. Stevens was married to Ada H. McMillen, in Watertown, Wis., March 19, 1857, and, during his residence in Minnesota, two sons - Edgar N. and'H. Arthur - his only children - were bom, both now living. Edgar N., the oldest, being a partner with him in the publication of the Record.

DANIEL C. STONER (deceased) was boro November 27, 1808, near Fredericktown, Md. His father having died, his mother moved the following spring to Dayton, Montgomery Co., Ohio. At the age of fourteen years, he was apprenticed to the tanner's trade, serving four years. During this time he received three months' schooling each year. At the a^e of eighteen, he began teaching school and " boarding round ,T in Montgomery