Money Creek Township (part 1 of 3)

Money Creek Township

Jesse Trimmer was born March 14, 1818, in Huntington County, New Jersey. His father's name was John Trimmer, and his mother's name before her marriage was Elizabeth Lanterman. John Trimmer was an active business man, and his worldly circumstances were very fair. In August, 1826, the Trimmer family came1 to Smith's Grove, McLean County, Illinois. After they crossed the Wabash, on their road to the West, they saw no white person until they reached Smith's Grove. They traveled on an Indian trail and found no wagon track this side of the Wabash. No white person was to be found at that time in Mackinaw timber. Jonathan Cheney was at Cheney's Grove, John Dawson lived at Old Town timber, and about fifteen families lived in Blooming Grove.

In October of that year, before the family had built a house and while they were yet living in a camp, John Trimmer died, leaving Mrs. Trimmer with a family of eight children to oversee and provide for. Mr. Trimmer was buried in a coffin made of walnut lumber, which had been made by splitting thin pieces from a log and dressing them down with an axe and a jack plane. Jacob Spawr, W. H. Hodge, William Orendorff and John Hendryx helped to make the coffin and assisted at the funeral.

When Mr. Trimmer came to the country he was a child, and his playmates were the Indian boys, with whom he often ran races. The clothing of the pioneer children consisted of a shirt, but nothing else to speak of. Mr. Trimmer once witnessed a race between George Harness and an Indian boy, in which the latter came out ahead. George was beaten but not discouraged, and declared that if he could pull off his shirt he could beat the little savage. He drew off his shirt, and on a second race came out ahead. The Indians were very friendly and stole watermelons in a sociable way. They sometimes raised corn, and when they moved away the white folks were asked to take care of it in the lofts of their cabins. The Indians were always glad to get a night's lodging, and Mr. Trimmer remembers when two of them stayed at his mother's house over night. She gave them mush and milk for supper, but they did not know how to eat it until the little Trimmers commenced.

During the deep snow the Trimmers had the experience common to all of the old settlers. In the fore part of the winter, Frederick Trimmer and one other went to St. Louis to bring goods for James Allin. They returned as far as Springfield, when they were caught in the deep snow. They left their loads and came home with four horses, riding two and driving two ahead in a single file to break the road. As soon as the horse on the lead gave out, it was put in the rear and another took its place. The goods were not brought to Blooming Grove until the April afterwards.

Mr. Trimmer married, March 7, 1839, Amanda Gilmore, who was born and reared in Fayette County, Ohio. She came to Money Creek timber in 1837. Her family was four weeks on their journey to the West, and Amanda walked all the way aud drove cattle.

William Trimmer enlisted in the Thirty-third Illinois Volunteers in August, 1861, was discharged from the hospital at St. Louis, on account of continued sickness, and died three months afterwards of sickness contracted in the army.

John F. Trimmer was a soldier in the Xinety-fourth Illinois, and afterwards in the Twenty-seventh, and served nearly three years. He lives in Money Creek timber.

Mr. Trimmer is rather less than the medium height ; his hair is dark and turning a little gray and his face is broad. He seems in good health, is in comfortable circumstances, and appears to be a man of responsibility and standing. He is friendly in manner and modest in appearance. Very few men have too little self assertion, but this certainly seems to be the case with Mr. Trimmer.

Henry Moats was born November 20, 1810, in Licking County, Ohio. His ancestors were of German and Irish descent. In the fall of 1829, the Moats family came to Buckles' Grove, where they remained six weeks, then went to where Hudson now stands and remained a month ; then came to Money Creek timber and made a permanent settlement. They did some farming, hunted " right smart," pounded their corn during the " hominy session," which was the winter of the deep snow, and hauled fall wheat to Chicago for forty cents per bushel.

Mr. Moats is fully six feet in height, has broad shoulders, is strong, is good natured, accommodating and pleasant. He works hard, and has done fairly well since his arrival in the West. He has a full head of rather bushy hair, which is turning gray, and his whiskers are grayish black. He always enjoys himself in the society of the frank spoken old settlers, and thinks they are much more social than at the present time.

William Stretch was born March 24, 1817, in Fayette County, Ohio. He is of English, Scotch and Dutch descent. His father was Jesse Stretch, and his mother was Elizabeth Vandolah. The Stretch family came to McLean County in the fall of 1830. They had a very pleasant journey, were nineteen days on the road ; but William shook with the ague during the most of the time and was not in a situation to appreciate the grandeur of the West. The famity settled on the east side of Money Creek timber, where William Stretch now lives, and there built a cabin and began farming. During the first winter of their residence in this country they pounded their meal, and the Stretch boys had great sport in chasing the deer*

During the summer of 1832 the Stretch family lived in their own cabin, and did not run for protection on account of the wars and rumors of wars, which were flying around.

"William Stretch has led a quiet life, and has not had it diversified by many adventures. At one time, when he killed a deer in Mackinaw timber, he became lost. The day was cloudy and it was impossible to see the sun. He dragged his deer during the greater part of the day over the snow, and at nearly nightfall discovered the house of Samuel Bigger, and then understood his position.

Mr. Stretch is five feet and ten and one-half inches in height; his hair is dark, and his eyes are a light hazel. His form is large, and he weighs from one hundred and ninety to two hundred pounds. He has great muscle, and his features are massive and heavy. He seems to be a man very independent in manner and feeling, though quiet and modest. He is a good neighbor and a kind father, and a man whose word can always be relied upon.

Albert Ogden was born in 1798 in New York, and was of English descent. He came to Ohio at an early day and there worked at his trade as a cooper. He married Margaret Riddle, who was born in Pennsylvania. Her descent was rather mixed, as her ancestors were Scotch, Irish, Welch and Dutch.

Albert Ogden lived in Madison County, Ohio, for a long while, and was a famous hunter there. He often hunted deer bv torchlight on Deer Creek. This creek in some places spread out into ponds, and here the deer came in the night time to feed on moss. Mr. Ogden hunted with a canoe at night. He placed a torch in the canoe, and in front of the torch was a board with a hole in it, giving the torch the appearance of a dark lantern. Behind the board was the hunter. He could come up within a few rods of the deer, as they were feeding on the moss, for they would gaze at the light with astonishment. Mr. Ogden understood the nature of deer, and hunted them accordingly. In Madison County were many barrens, and on these were knolls of ground. When the deer were scared they were sure to run up on a knoll and look around. Mr. Ogden, understanding this, would take his position near a knoll, and send his boy around to scare up the deer, which would run to the knoll, and there Mr. Ogden's unerring rifle would bring them down.

Albert Ogden came to Money Creek timber, McLean County, Illinois, in the fall of 1831, and there helped his son Benjamin to make his farm. He did very little hunting after his arrival in the "West, but worked hard and faithfully. He died August 13, 1845. He had ten children, of whom eight grew up. They are :

Abner Ogden died in Ohio, never came "West- Jonathan Ogden lives in Money Creek township. Benjamin Ogden died in September, 1873, at his home in Money Creek timber.

Deborah Ogden was first married to Hiram Tipton, and after his death she was married to Elder Henry Stump. John Ogden lives in Money Creek township. Susannah Ogden was married to William Orendorfi\ She and her husband are both dead.

William Wilcox was born December 26, 1813, in Fayette County, Ohio. His father's name was Edward Wilcox, and his mother's name before her marriage was Sarah Richardson. Edward Wilcox was born in Pennsylvania and moved to Kentucky at an early day. He was a soldier in the war of 1812. He was one of the party sent down to bury the dead at Fort Stephenson on the Lower Sandusky, after the attack made upon it by the British and Indians. The fort was defended by Major Croghan, who commanded a little band of one hundred and sixty young men, and Edward Wilcox says that this little garrison was dieproportioned to the number of men, that lay dead in the ditch in front of the fort. Many of those in the ditch lay dead without a scar of any kind, and seemed smothered in dead bodies and blood. After this battle General Harrison censured Major Croghan,as the former had sent the latter orders to retreat; but it afterwards appeared that the orders were never received. The ladies of Chillicothe presented to Major Croghan a fine sword as a reward for his bravery, and a red petticoat as a sarcasm upon Genera] Harrison.

William Wilcox lived in Fayette County, from the time he was born until he came to Illinois, which was in the spring of 1832. On the fourth of May of that year the Wilcox family started. They came through heavy timbered country in Ohio, where scarcely any grass could be had to feed their horses, and were obliged to pay a dollar and a quarter per bushel for corn. When they arrived at the Wabash, they found many peaceable Indians with their squaws, who had come there to be as far as possible away from the scenes of the Black Hawk war. When the party arrived on the open prairie, they were much troubled by wolves, which hung around them every night. These animals were always on the watch, and during one night attacked a colt belonging to Mr. Wilcox, and injured it so severely that it afterwards died. On the 30th of June, the family arrived at Mackinaw timber and settled where William Wilcox now lives. Their first care was to obtain provisions, and Mr. Wilcox, jr., was sent one hundred and ten miles to Perrysville, on the Wabash, for flour. But this was simply a prelude to the travels, which he afterwards made to mill. He once went to Green's mill, at Ottawa, and broke down his wagon with sixty bushels of wheat in the Illinois River. Three other teams were in company with him and the teamsters waded into the water and carried the sixty bushels of wheat ashore, sack by sack. This was in 1836. During the following year, he went to the Kankakee River to mill, in company with a friend, who also had a wagon load of wheat and a team. They mired down very often and were obliged to double teams and pull out. At last the friend mired down completely to the wagon bed, and even the double team would not pull the wagon out. The teamsters then took off the load and carried out the wheat sack by sack, but even the double team could not stir the wagon, and the only result of pulling was to break oft' the tongue. The teamsters then lifted off the wagon bed and pried up the wheels, two at a time, and brought them out. The wagon was put together, the load replaced, the two wagous fastened together and the teams doubled, and in this way they proceeded on their journey. They were a complete mass of black mud from head to foot, but took a good wash at the Kankakee. While the miller was grinding their wheat, they made a tongue to replace the one which had been broken, and returned safely home.

Mr. Wilcox often went hunting after bees. In 1835, he went with a friend to Indiana after honey. On the road their horses ran away and broke the spokes out of a wheel ; but they mended this little breakage and went on. When they came to timber, they hunted bees and found a very old swarm, and among the comb they found a black snake dead and carefully sealed up with wax. Its skin was finely preserved.

Mr. Wilcox has done his share of wolf hunting, and has caught these cunuing and treacherous animals in pens, with dogs and horses, and in every way that ingenuity could suggest. He once went with a party after some gray wolves, and killed the mother of the pack and twelve wolves two-thirds grown. This was an unusual litter; the greater number of them were killed as they came out of a hollow log, from which they were driven by fire. One of these wolves was caught by Mr. Wilcox on foot.

He chased wolves on horseback, and once caught one after a run of nine miles ; but it was so stiff, when killed, that he placed it on its feet upright and left it. Mrs. Wilcox has had her experience with these animals and one fine morning saw two of them near the barn. They did not appear at all afraid, but seemed to know that women are not usually dangerous. The dogs attacked them, but they escaped. The wolves still trouble the settlers on the Mackinaw. Mr. Wilcox has often hunted deer and had many interesting adventures. His wrists at the present time show the scars made by the prongs of a wounded deer, with which he had a severe struggle. He once had a struggle with a deer on the smooth ice of the Mackinaw. The deer kicked his knife out of his hand and sent it skipping over the ice; but he clung to the deer by one antler and one hind leg, and struggled up and down, on top and under, over and around, until another hunter came to his assistance. Mr. Wilcox went hunting deer shortly after the sudden change of December, 1836. The country was an absolute glare of ice, and he hunted on foot with his dog. He started a drove of deer, which increased to more than a hundred, and they went slipping over the ice, with his dog slipping and scratching after them. They went down hill very fast, as they would spring and slide, but while going up hill they would spring and slip and slide back. The dog would frequently get hold of a deer, but as the former could not keep its foothold it would be kicked loose. Sometimes, while going up a hill, the deer in front would fall and slide back, throwing down those behind, until the whole drove would become a mass of sliding, kicking and springing animals. Mr. Wilcox became very much excited and fired at the mass without taking aim at a single one. But this was not a very effective way, for after a long day's hunt he only killed one deer.

Mr. Wilcox has often hunted turkeys and killed as many as twelve in a day. He once chased a turkey to the bank of the Mackinaw and struck at it with his whip, as it was about to fiy across, and the lash coiled around its neck and held it fast.

Mr. Wilcox has led the life of a farmer, and has been very successful in his calling. In common with many farmers, he is no great lover of railroads, particularly of high freights. In 1867, he made a visit to Iowa, and as he had no baggage he took a box with seven bushels of apples and enjoyed himself by listening to the railroad officials as they used improper expressions while lifting it. It was twice broken open by rough handling, but taken through at last. In Iowa, he saw snow as deep as that spoken of by the " deep snow" settlers of McLean County. He rode over snow drifts twenty feet in depth, and at one time went over an orchard without knowing it until afterwards, as not a tree was visible above the snow.

Mr. Wilcox was married, June 12, 1845, to Mary Young. He has had two children, one of whom is living. She is Mary Ellen, wife of Andrew Steward, and lives in Gridley township.

is rather slim. His head is bald, but well shaped, and shows a good development of brain. His eyes are gray, his whiskers of a reddish cast, intermixed with gray. He is a remarkable man among the old settlers - remarkable for his humor and kindness of heart and his boundless hospitality. His friends are welcome under his roof, and if thev visit him he will tell them the incidents of his early settlement, the fun and humor of other days, when all people were neighbors.

John Ogden was born May 23, 1807, in Madison County, Ohio. He was, in his youth, an active young man, and accustomed to work, and had little taste for hunting. His brother Samuel, who now lives north of the Mackinaw, was the hunter of the family. John Ogden went to school in Ohio, but was not a very forward scholar, as it required six months for him to go far enough in the spelling book to come to the word "baker."

He was married in April, 1826, when not quite nineteen years of age, to Esther Stretch. In 1832, the year of the Black Hawk war, he moved to Illinois, and his journey was a hard one through the mud and rain. He was often deep in the mud and water, but says he always felt safe as long as he could see the oxen's horns ! He was more than a month on the road, but arrived at last at Mackinaw timber, where he bought out a man named Carlin, and settled down as a farmer. He worked hard, broke up a few acres of prairie and planted it in corn. A variety was given to frontier life in 1832 by the panics, to which the settlers were liable during the Black Hawk war. When the soldiers returned, shooting squirrels on their way through the timber, the people were universally frightened.

Mr. Ogden made the usual trips to various parts of the country to mill, and went often to Chicago to market. At one time, on his return from Chicago, he attempted to ride one of his oxen across the Illinois River, while the ice was running ; but the ice struck his ox and made it plunge, and Mr. Ogden was thrown into the water.

Mrs. Ogden died October 14, 1858, and on the fifth of March, 1861, Mr. Ogden married Mary Abbott. Bv this marriage he has two children, Arnettie and Hattie Eleanor, who both live at home.

Mr. Ogden is about five feet and a half in height. His hair is curly and black, and is becoming slightly gray. He weighs about one hundred and eighty-five pounds, and is healthy, with the exception of poor eyesight, which prevents him from working much.

James McAferty was born November 24th, 1779, in Kentuckv, but settled in Favette Countv, Ohio, at a verv earlv day. He was there during the war of 1812, and was then a soldier, but did not participate in any engagement.

He married, Elizabeth Kichardson on the 26th of January, 1804. In December, 1832, he came to McLean County, Illinois. and settled on the east side of Money Creek timber. He lived during the first winter at the house of William Wilcox, but his sons, Ethan and Jonathan, lived in a small shanty about a mile distant in the woods, and there took care of the horses, cattle and sheep.

much so for his own good. He was always anxious to help his neighbors. He had a large orchard in Ohio, but never sold a bushel of apples. Whenever his neighbors came for apples, the old gentleman made his boys stop work and gather them. He was a man who meddled with nobody's business but his own, and not much with his own.

Dr. Ethan McAferty, son of James McAferty, was born December 11, 1816, in Fayette County, Ohio. There he had a pleasant life on a farm, but sometimes had his temper aroused, when his father made him gather apples to give away to other folks. In December, 1832, he came with the family to Money Creek timber. During the first winter Ethan and his brother Jonathan attended to the stock.

Ethan McAferty occasionally did some hunting, and one adventure is told of him which was considered quite interesting at the time. He was out hunting with two hound puppies, and shot a deer. But it was only slightly injured, and wdien he took hold of it, it made a most active struggle. It was an enormous buck, and when he took hold of its antlers it started to run, and made the most astonishing leaps, dragging and jerking Mr. McAferty, and making his legs fly like whip-crackers. But he held on to the antlers, and as he was on one side of the deer he compelled it to run in a circle, and his puppies in the meantime kept up their attack, and at last it was thrown from its feet and killed.

Dr. McAferty began to study medicine in 1850 with Dr. Rogers in Bloomington. The former had read medicine before ; but during this year he made it a special study. He studied until 1852, then went to Iroquois County, there practiced until 1854 and then came back to Lexington. Here he purchased a stock of dry goods, in company with Mr. Claggett, who managed the store while Dr. McAferty attended medical lectures at Rush College in Chicago. In 1865 Dr. McAferty began the practice of medicine, still continuing his attendance upon medical lectures.

and a peculiar humor acquired by the attendance upon lectin and the practice of medicine. He seems to be a man who would cheer a patient by the kindness of his manner and the pleasantness of his speech. He laughs at a good joke on himself, and appreciates it better than if it were at the expense of some one else.

Samuel Ogden, son of Albert Ogden, was born August 1, 1809, in Madison County, Ohio. He was early taught to work, for when he was only four or five years o.ld his father gave him and his brother John each a hoe, and set them at work hoeing corn. Samuel made clean work of it, and hoed up weeds and corn indiscriminately.

He was often taken to church by his mother, while he was small, and she tried to cultivate in him the love of orthodoxy. He never joined a church, as he could not decide which was the best. He very much preferred to attend horse-races, and went to see horses run before he was old enough to ride on a race-course himself. At the first race he ever saw, a number of horses ran for a corn purse, that is, every man, who ran his horse, put up some corn, and the winner took the pile. The race-course belonged to old John Funk, who had cut up the corn around his field and made a track. Two or three years afterwards little Samuel became old enough to ride races himself. He became a good judge of horses, and in after years bought a fine mare called " Clear the Kitchen," which could, indeed, clear the kitchen or race-track either. The first time he put her on the track she beat a fine mare belonging to Colonel Gridlev. He traded Clear the Kitchen for his Juliet mare, with which he won every race.

Mr. Ogden began to hunt when he was big enough to ride a horse, and would chase turkeys and pheasants, and was sure to catch them the second time they flew up. He would chase deer across the level, open ground, near Deer Creek. He found a great difference in the speed of deer, as much as in the speed of horses. The long-legged bucks could run very fast, while the short-legged ones were easily caught. He hunted with dogs and kept them well in front, in order to give them a fair start, and they always brought down the game. Samuel Ogden hunted wolves, and on his first wolf chase jumped from his horse and caught a wolf by the throat and killed it. He never considered it a sin to kill a wolf on Sunday or any other day. These wolf hunts were taken after Mr. Ogden came to Illinois.

In 1830 he married Nancy Vandolah, in Fayette County, Ohio. In the fall of 1833 he came to Money Creek timber, McLean County, Illinois. He had a muddy journey, but the oxen pulled the wagon through, and it was not very unpleasant. He bought a claim in Money Creek township, on the Mackinaw side, and commenced life as a farmer, but not under the best of circumstances. He had a mare and colt, and an Indian pony. His mare died, and he was obliged to work his farm by hitching up a couple of calves in front of his Indian pony. He succeeded well and moved to Buck Creek north of the Mackinaw, where he entered the most of his land. He also bought some land, and for a part he paid six dollars per acre. He bought the Daily place of two hundred and sixty-five acres for ten thousand dollars. In buying land he was always careful to see that it was well watered. In 1845 he began to deal in cattle, and before long had two hundred head. . He is now in comfortable circumstances, and everything he owns is paid for. His health is very good, though he suffers occasionally from a fall from a horse, which he was riding on a race-course at Peoria, some years ago. The horse plunged, that is, jumped stiff-legged with its head down. Mr. Ogden takes his brandy occasionally, but does not believe in drinking much. He loves the good old times, when men would fight, not because they were angry, but in order to know who was the better man ; and when the contest would close they would "be friends and take a drink." Those were the days when matters were conducted honorably, and whoever was detected in foul play was sure to be counted out, and was not tolerated. Mr. Ogden takes the best of care of his stock and feeds his horses well, for he says that the man, who neglects his horses, never becomes rich.

George Ogden (named after George Washington, with the "Washington left out !) lives about five miles west of his father's, in the Coon settlement.

Mr. Ogden is about five feet and four inches in height, is strongly set and muscular, has a broad face, black eyes, and short black whiskers. He is very active, and few are equal to him in a foot-race. He is fond of good jokes ami tells a great many of them. He is exceedingly tough, and will live to be ninety or a hundred years of age.

Jonathan Ogden was born February 6, 1801, in Pickaway County, Ohio, on the Pickaway Plains, on the southeastern bank of the Ohio River. When he was two years of age the family moved to Madison County. There Jonathan grew up as most other boys did, with a fair development of fun and humor. The Ogden family farmed and raised stock and raced horses, and the latter was verv agreeable to Jonathan. He did not wish to make a business of horse-racing, but wished to see what good horses could be raised. He often tested the speed of his horse by chasing turkeys and deer. He once chased a deer into a man's door-yard, and the latter killed it for Ogden, by the time he came up. Everybody chased deer in those days. Once, while gathering hickory nuts with Ins brothers and sisters, they heard the baying of hounds, and hid until a deer came bounding along. Then they all rose with yells, and the frightened deer stopped until the hounds came up and took it.

In 1833, Mr. Ogden came to Money Creek timber, McLean County, Illinois, where he arrived September 22nd. After living here a year, lie moved to the Little Vermilion, where he spent another year, and then returned to Money Creek timber, where he has remained ever since.

the badger, which makes the hardest light' for its size of any wild animal in the West. The back of its neck is covered by a skin so thick and tough, that nothing can hurt it there. This is the very place where a clog is likely to take hold of it ; but the badger scarcely minds it and fights harder than ever. It can never be whipped, until it is seized by the throat,

Jonathan Ogden married, between Christmas and New Years, in 1824, Andria Rutan. He has had eleven children, all of whom are grown up. They are :

Mr. Ogden is less than the medium height, weighs not quite a hundred and forty pounds, has black e}Tes and hair. His beard, once black, is now becoming gray. He feels the effects of age, but his temper is as kind and pleasant as ever.

Madison Young was born November 18, 1812, in Fayette County, Ohio. His father's name was William Young, and his mother's name before her marriage was Mary Smith. William Young was born in Virginia and came to Ohio at an early day, where Madison was born. In 1832 William Young came to Mackinaw timber, but Madison Young could not make up his mind to leave Ohio so soon. He had hunted there, and liked the country and the game ; but in the year 1833 he followed up the family and came to Mackinaw timber. He traveled on horseback, and came through without remarkable difficulty. He immediately began frying the quality of western venison, and brought down the deer in great numbers, indeed he almost made hunting his business.

Mr. Young gave an eloquent description of the sudden freeze of December, 1836, and told how the chickens froze fast in the slush. But he laughed so hard and so good-naturedly while telling it, that it was impossible to remember what he said.

Mr. Young married in March, 1836, Sidney Ann Messer, who died in April, 1850. He married again in June, 1852, Catherine Caroline Young. Although she bore the same family name she was not related to him before her marriage.

Mr. Young is about five feet and nine inches in height, has a sanguine complexion and white hair. He is very healthy and exceedingly jolly. He loves to talk, when he can stop laughinglong enough to do so, and the man who speaks to him is made to feel at home immediately. He has many queer ideas, and when he hears or tells a good joke he is not afraid to laugh at it heartily and strongly. He has a queer philosophy, and takes the world easy. He was once asked by a neighbor why he did not put a new roof on his house, " Oh," said Mr. Young in reply, " when it don't rain I don't need it, and when it does rain I can't do it ! haw, haw, haw !"

James R. Wiley was born November 21, 1820, in Switzerland County, Indiana. His father's name was John R. Wiley, and his mother's maiden name was Hannah Sampson ; both were Americans, and born in Maryland. John E. Wiley was taken to Kentucky when very young, and afterwards moved to Switzerland County, Indiana, where James was born.

In the fall of 1835 the Wiley family came to the West. They had a cold, wet journey, and did not arrive until November, after traveling twenty-two days. Young James exercised himself by driving the cattle and sheep. The family was often stopped by high water, and the sheep gave great trouble, for they were obliged to swim rivers so often that they dreaded the water, and it was frequently necessary to take them by the horns and drag them across. When they arrived at the head of the Mackinaw, their troubles were, by no means, ended,, as they could not go to mill and were obliged to pound hominy for six weeks. They afterwards made the usual trips to mill in all directions, sometimes to Ottawa, sometimes to Cheney's Grove, and elsewhere.

Mr. Wiley has done some hunting, as the old settlers would, but had no very remarkable adventure. He has had the usual experience with prairie fires, has had a great deal of fencing and many stacks burned up.

Mr. Wiley married, October 12, 1843, Sarah R. Lineback. He has sometimes taken his family back to visit their friends in Indiana, and occasionally had some lively adventures by the way. At one time, while crossing Sugar Creek with his wife and child, when it was high, the wagon sank so low that they went into the water to their waists, and the horses could scarcely get footing. The wagon was carried down stream by the current, and things appeared scarey for a moment, but at last the horses scrambled out. Mr. Wiley made up his mind never to swim his horses again, but he did ; he crossed the Kankakee, and swam the Desplaines with a four-horse team. Eleven men out of thirteen had been drowned in the Desplaines the day before he crossed.

Mr. Wiley is about five feet and six inches in height; he is rather lightly built, is active and industrious, and does not like to see weeds in his corn. He has a kind expression on his countenance, but is very determined, has a great deal of courage, is very active and quick-sighted, and it would be an active deer or wolf that would escape him. He is a gentleman in manners and feeling. He is a model farmer, looks after everything, and does not put in any more corn than he can attend to. He plows eight acres of corn a day, and attends to forty acres himself very conveniently. He has three hundred and sixteen acres of land in his farm, and it is all well taken care of. It is all under fence, and what is not under cultivation is in pasture. He keeps good graded stock, and has from fifty to seventy -five head of cattle. The cattle, which he sent to market last spring, averaged sixteen hundred and sixty pounds ; they were the best "hunch" of cattle that had been to the Lexington yards for twelve months. The farm, where he lives, is in the edge of the Mackinaw timber, where he has his pasture shaded by trees, and his land under cultivation is the rich prairie.

Wesley F. Bishop was born January 15, 1817, in Madison County, Alabama. His father's name was William G. Bishop, and his mother's maiden name was Rebecca Briggs; both were of English descent. William Bishop was a cabinet maker, and made cotton gins and household furniture, but during the latter part of his life was a farmer. When Wesley Bishop was five years of age, the family moved to Wayne Count}*, Indiana, near Centerville. Here he went to school with a young man, named Fox, who afterwards became the great leader of a band of robbers in the northwest. He was the man who murdered Colonel Davenport at Rock Island. The father of the Foxes was considered an honest, upright citizen. In 1829 or 30, the family moved to the Wabash, near the present town of Delphi. It was laborious work for the Bishops to raise corn, for the wild animals were numerous and troublesome. When it was planted, the coons would come at night, move along the rows, smell out the corn and eat up every kernel, unless they were watched and driven off, until the corn started and the kernel was rotted. In the latter part of the summer, and in the fall, the black birds came in swarms and ate the corn, and the deer came in great numbers at night, so that it seemed almost impossible to protect the corn and gather it.

The great curiosity or object of interest in Indiana, was, for many years, the battle ground of Tippecanoe. In about the year 1834, (Mr. Bishop thinks,) the bones of the soldiers were collected and buried with great honor. The people came from several counties and States around and collected them. A man, named Tipton, from Logansport, delivered an address, and the people had a great barbecue. They roasted an ox and made indeed a grand celebration.

In the spring of 1836, the Bishop family came to McLean County, Illinois, but Wesley Bishop stayed in Indiana for a while to attend to some unfinished business, and came out in the fall with a drove of cattle. The family settled on the Jacob Spawr farm, on the edge of Money Creek timber, on the main State road from Springfield to Chicago.

In the winter of 1836-7, Wesley Bishop taught school in Money Creek township. In December of that winter, occurred the sudden change in the weather, so often described. On that day a man, named Popejoy, was on the road to Bloomington for a petition for a new county, and passed Bishop's school house. Not long afterwards the sudden change came on and Bishop dismissed his school. Pretty soon Popejoy came riding back, but was frozen to his saddle and required assistance to dismount. Mr. Bishop received as his wages, while teacher, twenty dollars per month and boarded himself. He was the first school treasurer for Money Creek township, and the first money he drew for school purposes from the county was twenty-five dollars and eighteen cents. When the people wanted a school house they were obliged to build it out of their own pockets.

Mr. Bishop is a universal genius. He needed some brick, and straightway he started a brickyard and made them. The rats troubled him very much around his barn, and he immediately exercised his genius and made a barn which was rat-proof. These are only a few of the forms in which his genius continually sprouts. In the spring of 1864, Mr. Bishop enlisted in Company E, of the One Hundred and Thirty-third Illinois Volunteers, as a hundred day man. He was too old to be drafted, but he wanted to render some assistance to the government in the great struggle. He left his brick yard and his business in other hands and started. He sought for no office, but served as a private. The regiment was stationed at Rock Island and they had a very pleasant time indeed.

Daniel J. Bishop, lives just east of his father's. He enlisted in the Ninety-fourth Illinois Volunteers and served three years to a day. He saw some hard campaigning, was at Prairie Grove, Vicksburg and Fort Morgan.

Mr. Bishop is about five feet and eight inches in height, is muscular and tough, has rather a broad face and is good natured and honest. He lives up to his agreements, is very industrious and quick to see a chance to make a short turn. He is a man who thinks a great deal of principle. He believes in developing the resources of the country, and thinks that America ha3 mines of every kind, which should be developed to their utmost capacity. He is an ardent protectionist and believes that if the policy of Henry Clay had been pursued, the country would have been far better developed, and in a much more flourishing condition. He is very decided in his opinions, and thinks the children of to-day should receive a practical education, which they do not receive in schools.

William Crose was born September 12, 1814, in Pickaway County, Ohio. His father's name was Philip Crose, and his mother's maiden name was Priscilla Becks. Philip Crose was a soldier of the Revolutionary war, being old enough to go into the army during the last six months of the struggle. He drew a pension until his death, which occurred in about the year 1837. When William Crose was about three years old, the family came to Shawneetown, Illinois, but after a few years moved to Eel River, Indiana, then after a few years went to where Crawfordsville, Ind., now stands. When William Crose was thirteen years of age, he was bound out to Elijah Funk, a farmer, in Warren County, Indiana, but at the age of twenty, became his own man. He went to Pickaway County, where he was a farm laborer and drover. He drove one hundred and forty cattle five hundred and thirty-three miles, to Philadelphia. He was forty-seven days on the road, and when lie had disposed of his cattle he returned in eleven days and a half.

He married, November 13, 1833, Eliza Ann Busick. He lived there nearly a year, then in Indiana three years, and in 1837 came to Randolph Grove, McLean County, Illinois. After working hard for eight or nine years he accumulated some little property, began to think himself rich, and wished to take the world easy. He took a great interest in sporting, and kept the finest and fleetest hounds for running wolves and deer. Mr. Crose says that deer, when chased by dogs, will actually run themselves to death. He knows this by actual experiment; he once chased a buck until it laid down and died before being touched. He has had great sport with wolves, and once tried to tame one of these vicious animals, but could not even break it to be led. He tied a chain to its neck and fastened the other end of the chain to his wagon, but the wolf would allow itself to be dragged for miles without walking. He has hunted the otter, and found it an exceedingly cunning animal, which goes into its hole under water and works up under the bank above the water's mark. He once broke into an otter's hole when twenty feet from the pond, where it lived. The routine of the year then was - in the winter time hunting wolves and deer, in the spring ploughing and planting, and in the fall going to Chicago and selling oats for twelve and a half cents per bushel. After hunting for a few years, Mr. Crose saw that he must let his gun and dogs alone, and pay more attention to business.

Eighteen years ago he sold out and went to Iowa, but there his health failed him, and he returned to Illinois, and bought the land where he now lives, midway between Lexington and Towanda, and has since succeeded pretty well. He has had eleven children altogether, of whom ten are living. They are :

Mr. Crose is about rive feet and nine inches in height, has reddish-brown hair and whiskers, a slightlv Roman nose, and rather small eyes. He seems -pretty muscular, and is a man of good temper. If he has difficulty with anyone, it is pretty certain that he has good cause for it, for his disposition is peaceable and he wishes to be on good terms with his neighbors. He is a very fair-minded man, is open to argument, and has none of that obstinacy of opinion, which induces men to shut their ears to new ideas.

Mouxt Hope

( reorge M. Stubblefield, son of Robert Stubblefield, was named after a noted Methodist preacher in Ohio, named George Maley. George was born August 29, 1823, in Favette Count v, Ohio. In December, 1824, the Stubblefield family came to Illinois, and George was carried in the arms of his mother, who rode on horseback. Thev settled in Funk's Grove, in what is now McLean County.

George Stubblefield remembers many things concerning the early settlement of the country, notwithstanding his extreme youth, when the family came to Illinois. He remembers the building of the first school-house in Funk's Grove, which was done by Robert Guthrie. Young George carried water for the men, while tfyey were at work. , The school-house was eighteen bv twentv feet long, was made of logs hewed on one side, had a clapboard roof and a puncheon floor. On the north and west sides were windows which extended the whole length and width of the room. Thev were made bv hewing; off one-half of two log-, which joined each other. The lights were formed by placing sticks upright and putting over them paper greased with lard.

On the east side of the building was a fire-place, which was large enough to receive a log eight feet long. It was in this house, that George Stubblefield received what education he obtained. During the winter of the deep snow the teacher in this school-house, Andrew Biggs, was obliged to move up to it and live there. The Stubblefields lived about a mile from the school-house, and Mr. Stubblefield was obliged to go back and forth once a day until it stopped snowing, in order to keep the road broken. This old school-house has long since been torn down, and has gone with the old settlers, who built it. A fine church has been erected oh the spot, and Funk's Grove Cemetery is near by.

When George Stubblefield became old enough to be " of some account," it was his business to go to mill. He was accustomed to go to Knapp's mill, near Waynesville. In 1836 he went with his father to Chicago with a load of sweet potatoes and a barrel of eggs. There he saw his uncle, Absalom Funk, who was so well known to the early settlers. Chicago then had no houses north of the river. The latter was simply a large muddy slough full of flags and bullrushes. The United States still kept a garrison at Fort Dearborn. The Indians were plenty, as during that fall a payment was to be made to them by the government. On the road to Chicago, George Stubblefield passed through Joliet, which then contained only two houses.

The sudden change in the weather in December, 1836, is often described. Mr. Stubblefield remembers another change, which seemed nearly as severe. In about the year 1848, as he and his brother Absalom and three others were going to Pekin with a drove of swine, the weather turned cold at about nine o'clock at night, after a rain or heavy mist. The next morning the}' crossed Mosquito Creek on the ice, which had frozen during the night. The prairie was a sheet of ice, and though they traveled with their swine from sunrise to sunset, their entire day's journey was only three miles.

At the early age of fifteen, George Stubblefield was quite a lady's man, and often went to see the girlish friend, who afterwards became Mrs. Stubblefield. The first deer he killed was within a few rods of her father's door. It will be noticed, that the young men in those days won the favor of women by manly exercises. He chased this deer with hounds, which brought it down near the door of the house of Samuel Murphy, and George killed it with his pocket-knife. George Stubblefield was a gallant young man, and was always moved by beauty in distress. He was once delighted at the opportunity of rescuing a lady, who had fallen from a log into Sugar Creek, into eisrht feet of water. This, however, cannot be made the subject of a romance, for he never married her, and never will.

The western country was never too new for peddlers, and Mr. Stubblefield remembers when they came round with their tinware, teapots and pewter spoons, which they traded for deer skins, wolf skins, and ginseng. He has spent many a day in digging ginseng, in order to purchase some little trinket.

The settlers from Funk's Grove often did their trading in Springfield, and it was customary for them to do trading for their neighbors, and take their neighbors' produce to market. Mr. Stubblefield remembers a certain Mr. Alloway, who took some butter, which belonged to a neighbor, to Springfield to sell. The butter was rather old, and when the merchant, who was to buy it, tried it with his knife, the butter crumbled to pieces. Alloway looked on with astonishment, and exclaimed with his lisping tongue : "My God, Mither, that's not my butter !"

The old settlers were usually full of energy and nearly all things related of them show their industry and activity ; but Mr. Stubblefield relates an incident of David Stout, which shows quite a contrary disposition. The latter was once returning home from Springfield with a blanket wrapped around him and tied to his neck with a string. Bv some accident it fell to the ground. gHe did not stop to pick it up, but went home and sent back his son for it, a distance of several miles.

Mr. Stubblefield remembers a great many interesting incidents concerning the old settlers, and particularly those which were humorous. He tells one of his uncle, Isaac Funk, which shows the disposition of that energetic man quite plainly. AVhen Mr. Isaac Funk went to call on Miss Cassandra Sharp, of Peoria, who afterwards became his wife, he was obliged to cross the Illinois River in a boat. Several others were with him, and they determined to upset the boat and make him call on his lady in wet clothes. They knew he could not swim, but supposed he would cling to the boat. Near the middle of the river the boat was capsized, but floated out of Isaac's reach. But he fortunately grasped a paddle, and whenever he went down, he struck the paddle on the bottom of the river and pressed himself near shore and at last came out in safety.

George Stubbletield tells an incident, which shows something of the disposition of his father, old Robert Stubblefield. Two young men once came to Robert Stubbletield's house and remained over night. They were not at all respectful, and in the morning Mrs. Stubblefield gave them some good advice, and a motherly lecture on the subject of good breeding. One of the young men, as he was leaving the house, disputed her word - told her she lied ! Mr. Stubblefield, who was coming in, heard the remark. He stepped into a shed near by, picked up his horsewhip and caught the young men, as they mounted their horses in a lane, where they could not get out. He was left-handed, but he dusted their jackets fearfully, and almost split their coats from their backs. This whipping made up for what the young men failed to receive in their younger days. Several persons witnessed the performance, and a man, named Mulky, laughed so hard that he was obliged to hold himself up by the fence.

Among the funny stories told by Mr. Stubblefield is one relating to a widow, who lived at Funk's Grove. A doctor in Bloomington occasionally paid his respects to this charming widow, and called twice to see her on the important subject of matrimony. Shortly afterwards, one of her family was sick, and she sent for the doctor on professional services, and when he had given her child some medicine, she inquired his bill, and he said, "two dollars/' "Well," said the widow, "Dr. Wheeler, you have called on me twice and stayed two evenings, and your bill is two dollars; I guess we will call it settled !" Dr. Wheeler went back to Bloomington with a number of large fleas hopping around his ears.

The young men in the early days were "sometimes up to their capers." Mr. Stubblefield tells of two young men from near Waynesville, who were in the habit of coming to Funk's Grove to steal apples from Robert Funk. These young men wished

James Biggs and John Vesev to assist them, and the assistance was promised. But the latter gentlemen made arrangements with other parties to be in the orchard and fire when the apple thieves should come. In the night the party came and filled a couple of sacks with apples, and Biggs proposed to whistle up "Old Bobby," as thev called Mr. Funk. Wnen lie whistled a gun was fired, and Biggs fell, saying : " Run for your lives !" The parties ran, leaving sacks and apples, and as they mounted their horses a second shot was fired, and Vesev fell, savins:: "Run, boys, run !" The apple thieves obeyed the injunction. They stopped at the widow Brock's, about four miles distant, and reported Biggs and Vesey killed, but the latter appeared in good spirits the next morning- The young men from Waynesville neglected to call at "Old Bobby's" to get their sacks.

Mr. Stubblefield tells a good story on his brother Absalom. Absalom, John and George once went to bathe in the east fork of Sugar Creek. Absalom went in and was carried down. by the current, to where the water was deep ; and as he could not swim he floundered and plashed, until he reached the opposite shore. He came out puffing, and soon the troublesome question arose, how to return. He dared not go into the creek again, and it was a mile or more to the nearest crossing. In the meantime the flies and mosquitoes swarmed around and almost covered him. He slapped them right and left, and in his anguish exclaimed : "I never will o-o into the water again until I learn to swim !" He was obliged to walk a mile or more up the creek to the crossing, and then back to the place of bathing.

George Stubblefield is about five feet and ten inches in height, and weighs about two hundred and forty pounds. He is a great lover of fun, as this sketch clearly shows. He is very muscular, and has the magnanimity which such men frequently possess. He dislikes to see any one imposed upon or oppressed by persons of superior muscle. He has beenwery successful in life, and so far as property is concerned is very comfortably situated. He married, March 15, 1850, Eliza Jane Murphy, the daughter of Samuel Murphy. She was born in July, 1832, the year of the Black Hawk war. She is a lady of quick perception and a good deal of tact, and appreciates wit and humor quite as well as Mr. Stubblefield. They have six children, five boys and one girl. They are :

Jesse Stubblefield, fourth son of Robert Stubblefield, was born July 30, 1825, at Funk's Grove. He received such an education as could be obtained by the son of a pioneer. His youth was not at all extraordinary, but was spent in life on a farm. In 1851, he began farming and stock raising on his own account on the farm where he now resides in the township of Mount Hope. His land, one hundred and sixty acres, was entered by him in 1851. In 1852, he received one hundred and sixty acres of land from Thomas Cuppy, his father-in-law. The last named gentleman had entered the land and paid for it with a warrant, obtained originally from a soldier who had served in the Mexican war. Mr. Stubblefield has continually added to his land, and now has about one thousand acres.

Mr. Stubblefield has a lively recollection of the incidents of the early settlement of the country, and remembers particularly the sudden change of December, 1836, and how his father's pigs were frozen by the intense cold.

Mr. Stubblefield's first sight of Chicago was in 1845, when he and his father and Absalom and George, made a trip to the place. They camped out along the way in the primitive style, and their slumbers were soothed by the howling of wolves. They sold their wheat for thirty-seven and one-half cents per bushel and returned.

Mr. Stubblefield tells a few lively hunting stories, for he frequently indulged in the sport of catching wolves and deer. At one time, while hunting, a deer was brought to bay by the hounds, and Lamon Hougham, who came up with a party of others, attempted to kill the deer with a spear. But his horse became restive and threw him on the horns of the buck. He held fast to the antlers, and James Funk attempted to shoot it, but stopped for fear of killing men or dogs. At last, George Stubblefield ended the exciting contest by killing the deer with his pocket knife.

George and Adam Stubblefield ouce had an exciting wolf chase on the ice of the creek, and Adam succeeded in catching the wolf by the hind legs, but let it loose to see it tight the dogs. The result was another chase of half a mile, to get possession of the wolf.

Mr. Jesse Stubblefield did not begin to pay his addresses to the ladies as early as his brother George. Mr. Jesse Stubblefield married Miss Rebecca Cuppy, August 14, 1851. By this marriage he had five children, of whom four are living. They are :

Thomas, Robert, John C. and Sarah Rebecca, and all live at home. Mrs. Stubblefield died March 25, 1862. She was a most excellent wife and mother.

On the seventh of September, 1863, Mr. Stubblefield married Mary C. Showdy, daughter of George W. Showdy, deceased, of Logan County. She is a most amiable and accomplished lady, very kind in her manner and entertaining in her conversation. By this marriage Mr. Stubblefield has had six children, of whom five are living. They are :

Mr. Stubblefield is six feet and two and a-half inches in height and weighs two hundred and twenty pounds. His hair was formerly brown, but now is becoming gray. His eyes are gray and have a pleasant, humorous expression. He is a first class business man, which appears to be a characteristic of the Stubblefield family. He is a man of public spirit and was twice commissioner of highways of Mt. Hope township. He takes an interest in education, and for twelve years has been a school director. He has met with great success as a stock raiser.

William Hieronymus was born February 13, 1788, at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia. His parents were of English and Dutch descent. He was raised on a farm and led a farmer's life. When he was a young man, he and his father went to Madison County, Kentucky, to look at the country, and were so well pleased with it, that William remained to raise a crop, while his father returned for the family, which came out in the fall. William Hieronymus married, August 14, 1811,

Alvira Darnell, probably in Madison County. During the war of 1812, he was drafted, but the situation of his family made it impossible for him to leave, so he hired a substitute. He followed boat-building for a while, as business of building flatboats was one which grew with the growth of commerce. He was a skillful workman with a broadaxe, and could handle it to perfection. In the year 1818, he went to Boone County, Missouri, and settled on the Missouri River. The place is now washed away and forms the channel of the stream. He lived three years in Missouri, then went back to Kentucky to his old home, then, after a few years, went to the Big Bone Lick. This lick is a deep lake of mud and water, the water being very shallow. The mud has apparently no bottom. The animals, which in former years went there to drink, sank down and died. Their bones are so numerous that the place is called the Big Bone Lick. The bones of many curious animals have been found there ; and particularly curious were the bones of the large mammoth, which was placed in Barnum's museum. Enoch Hieronymus has seen a bone from this lake, large enough for nine men to sit on. The water of the lake was impregnated with sulphur, and people from the surrounding country came there to drink it for their health. In the fall of 1828, William Hieronymus started for Illinois. His family moved with several other families, numbering in all forty-two persons. The oldest man in the company was George Henline, whose sons John, George, Henry, William and David, all had families. They camped the last night of their journey in Blooming Grove, at what. is now called the Nathan Low farm, then owned by a Mr. Latta, and the next day went to Hittle's Grove in Tazewell County, where they made arrangements for locations. Old George Henline and Henry and David remained at Hittle's Grove; but John, George, jr. and William, settled on the head waters of the Mackinaw, where they made a permanent location. William Hieronymus went from Hittle's Grove to Hieronymus Grove, in October, 1828, and there threw up a half faced camp. During the winter, he built a small cabin, in which he lived for some years. In the following spring he opened up a small farm, which was carried on by his sons, while he made looms, barrels, stocks of ploughs, etc. He was very skillful in the use of tools. He worked at

William Hieronymus was a tall man, standing six feet and two and one-half inches. His bones were large and his features prominent. Hieronymus Grove received its name from him. He had nine children, of whom only three are living. They are :

Enoch Hieronymus was born March 7, 1816, in Madison County, Kentucky. He accompanied the family wherever it went, as stated in the preceding sketch, of his father. In his younger days he worked a great deal in the tobacco patch, but acquired a distaste for tobacco and never used it. He thinks young men should all have an opportunity to work in a tobacco patch.

In the fall of 1828, the family came to Illinois. Here Enoch worked hard ; nevertheless, he was fond of hunting. He hunted deer and turkeys, and trapped mink and otter. He once came close to a panther while hunting, but did not succeed in killing it. He was watching a deer lick, and heard a deer come plashing through the water, and while watching for it, a panther came up on its trail. The panther stopped within two or three rods of Enoch and sat down. He attempted to shoot it, but the flintlock flashed in the pan, and as he had no more powder in the horn, he stood still, and man and beast watched each other intently. The panther was motionless, except a gentle waving of its tail. Enoch called for his dog, and the moment the bull-dog came in sight, the panther fled. Enoch went home for powder, and wished to hunt the panther, but his bull-dog, which never had flinched before, could not be induced to take the lead. Enoch was then only fourteen or fifteen years of age.

During the winter of the deep snow the Hieronymus family pounded corn, of course, as it was exceedingly difficult to go to mill, and when thev did <ro, thevwere obliged to travel on horsem'lean county. 731 back. He made snow-shoes that winter out of boards ten inches square, which were lashed to his feet, and with these he could chase the deer. He could travel over the snow with them very well, though sometimes they would go down with him.

The settlers went to Bloomington for doctors. Enoch Hieronvmus once went to Blooming-ton during the night, for a doctor, and returned the same night.

Enoch was a great rail splitter, and made six thousand four hundred and twenty rails in one lot. He commenced between Christmas and j\Tew Years, and worked until the middle of March. During the winter and spring of 1838-9, he made and hauled rails enough to enclose fifty acres of land.

He married, August 22, 1839, Elizabeth A. Thompson, who was born April 14, 1819, in Dixon County, Tennessee. Her parents came to Illinois in 1829, and lived six months in Sangamon County ; then they moved to the Forks of the Creek settlement, in what is now Logan County. There Elizabeth lived until her marriage. Mr. and Mrs. Hieronymus have never had any children of their own, but raised the orphan children of James Hieronymus, who died in 1848. The wife of James died a few months before her husband. Enoch and his wife took to their house one girl, two boys, and one infant child. Another infant child, twin to the first, was raised by the sister of Mrs. Hieronymus. The infant taken by Mrs. Hieronymus soon died. The two boys and the girl have grown up, and are happily married and settled in life. They are :

Both Benjamin and Thomas served about three years in the army. They enlisted under Captain Kinsey, and served in Company E, One Hundred and Seventeenth Illinois.

Mr. and Mrs. Hieronymus thought as much of these children as their own parents could, and now are anxious for their welfare and proud of their success.

Mr. Hieronymus has done some hard work. He and his wife, after their marriage, determined "to buy first what they needed worst, and only what they could, and afterwards what they would." They lived seven years in a log cabin, which Enoch Hieronymus built. The material for their present substantial house was brought from many quarters. Mr. Hieronymus cut some of the timber and hauled it to be sawed. He hauled the rest of the lumber from Chicago.

Mr. Hieronymus has done very well in worldly matters. He has had about a thousand acres of land, and has now about four hundred and sixty acres. In 1869 he built a Christian Church at Hieronymus Grove, and it is called the Hieronymus Grove Church. He is about five feet and nine inches in height, and is rather slim. The lines on his face would indicate decision of character and kindness of heart. He is perfectly straightforward in his dealings, and is remarkable for his peculiar tenderness of feeling. In this respect his wife is very much like him.

John Hougham was born November 19, 1810, in Highland County, Ohio. His father's name was Eunyon Hougham, and his mother's name before her marriage was Sarah Lamon. His father was of English descent, and his mother of Dutch. John Hougham never cut up many capers in Ohio, but was always a moral young man. He came with the family to the State of Illinois, to Funk's Grove, McLean County, in the fall of 1831. They had a hard time coming through the sloughs, and were once two days in going ten miles. The}* were sometimes water-bound, and were obliged to make bridges. When they came to the Wabash prairie they found the sloughs without bottom. When he arrived here, he worked on his father's farm. He has never traveled much, and has had very few adventures. He intended to see a great deal of the world, before he settled down, but foiled to carry out this resolution. He remembers the sudden change of weather in December, 1836, and says it was the " awfullest, quickest change he ever saw." He was then out hunting turkeys, but came home suddenly. He never hunted much, except after turkeys, and he " reckons he has killed right smart of them.*'

Mr. Hougham is not much of a traveler, though he once drove hogs to Galena. But he said it hurt his feet terribly, and that " if God would forgive him for going that time, he would never go again."

In the vear 1840, Mr. Hougham found the woman of his choice. He married Miss Eliza Ann Brock, on the 4th of April of that year. She is yet living. He says he was only married once, that was enough for him ; it was necessary to have some woman to take care of him.

In politics, Mr. Hougham is an old time Democrat. In answer to the question as to how he came to be a Democrat, he said that his father was a Democrat and all the family likewise, and that he came to be a Democrat as a matter of course. He voted first for General Jackson, and continued to vote for him three times, and has ever since voted for Jackson's friends. He says he never pulled wires in his life, or wrote a political document, or made a stump speech. He does not approve of stump speaking, and will not patronize it, as he thinks it does more injury than good. His opinion of Petroleum V. Nasby is, that the latter has done more harm than good to the Democratic party. He thinks the Chicago Times is the best paper printed, and the only objection to it is its tine type. He now takes the Bloomington Democrat, because it costs $1.50 per annum, and he wishes to patronize "home consumption." Mr. Hougham did not vote for Horace Greeley during the last campaign, though he considered Greeley a very smart man. But his objection was, that the latter brought on the war of the rebellion. He was the disturbing cause and responsible for it, though the South did not do altogether right. It was Mr. Hougham's opinion, after considering the matter carefully, that Greeley was nominated for the purpose of " running in Grant," so he determined to vote for " nary a one of 'em."

In personal appearance Mr. Hougham is six feet and one inch in height, and weighs two hundred and fifty-six pounds. He very much resembles Horace Greeley, though the latter did not have the winning smile which Mr. Hougham's countenance wears, and an acute observer might detect several points of difference in their intellectual development. Mr. Hougham is a kind man, and a pleasant neighbor. He is anxious that his name shall be spelled correctly, and is annoyed to think that a " heap of people spell it Hutfam."

The author would have been glad to have written a sketch of Lamon Hougham also, but the latter refused to give any items of his life, as he " did not wish to encourage speculation in books."

Westley Hougham, the brother of John Hougham, was born March 3, 1820, in Highland County, Ohio. He was always a moral boy, and never cut up capers or shines. He came to Funk's Grove in November, 1831. He had no particular adventure on the way, except difficulties with the mud, which delayed the family for some time, as they were obliged to make a great many bridges. On his arrival he immediately commenced farming and shaking with the fever and ague. Sometimes he farmed for his mother and sometimes for himself. When he became a "chunk of a boy" he ran wolves and deer and turkeys, and sometimes was successful in catching them and sometimes they won the race. When the sudden change in the weather in December, 1836, came, he was chasing turkeys about four miles from home, but made good time back, as may be supposed. He was obliged to swim Sugar Creek.

He married, September 5, 1845, Miss Ellen Smith, and by this marriage has had four children, of whom three are living. His wife died in 1854. He married, February 18, 1857, Margaret Ross, and by this marriage has had four children, of whom three are living. Two of Mr. Hougham's children are married. They are : at Springfield, when he went to see if he would do for a soldier. He weighs three or four hundred pounds, he does not know precisely which. He is stout and pretty active.

John Longworth was born September 2, 1809, in Marietta, Washington County, Ohio. His father's name was Robert Longworth, and his mother's name before her marriage was Nancy Reilly. Robert Longworth was of English descent and his wife Nancy was of English and Irish. Her father died a soldier in the Continental army, when she was only a child.

When John Longworth was three years of age, his parents moved to Muskingum County, Ohio. He was not old enough to remember anything of the war of 1812. He only recollects hearing of a young woman who was captured by Indians. When they were about to kill her, she called on the Great Spirit, by the name which the Indians knew it, and this so astonished them and so awakened their superstition that they released her. During the war of 1812, Robert Longworth was stationed on the river, and it was his duty to hail all boats that passed, especially all that came down. He stayed about seven years in Muskingum County, and there worked very hard, and made money enough to enter one hundred and sixty acres of land in Morgan County, to which place he moved.

John Longworth grew to manhood in Ohio, and received there the common school education, which the country afforded. When he was old enough to be of service, as a workman, he went to the Muskingum River and there engaged in the salt business, and sent the salt up and down the river in flatboats.

In March, 1832, the Muskingum River was very high, and inundated everything along its banks. Houses and fences were floated oft'. At one time during this flood, two men found floating down the Ohio River, a cradle with a baby in it. They had considerable strife to decide who should have this little Moses from the bullrushes.

In the spring of 1836 he came to Johnson's Grove, McLean County, Illinois. He came by steamboat to Pekin and across by team to Johnson's Grove in the present township of Mt. Hope.

Robert Longworth, the father of John, had come out the year before, had bought a hundred and sixty acres of land, which Johnson had entered, and the latter's claim on eighty acres of timber. When John Longworth came, he made a claim on one hundred and sixty acres of land, and settled on eighty acres more.

In December, 1836, a company came on from the east, and entered eight thousand acres of land, very nearly in the shape of a square ; and as the company had twenty-five shares, this left three hundred and twenty acres of land apiece. They also entered other land and gave the earliest settlers each a premium of forty acres. This land comprised the greater part of the township of Mt. Hope. This land was surveyed in the summer of 1837. Mr. Longworth assisted in the survey. They tried to find the corners, which had been laid out by the governmental survey. These were marked by stakes, holes and pits of charcoal. On the up-land, these corners could usually be found, but on the low-land they were sometimes wanting. This Mt. Hope company entered the land which Mr. Longworth claimed. It was the custom among the settlers never to enter a piece of land on which one of them had made a settlement, but the company entered all of its land together, and knew nothing of Mr. Longworth's settlement. But he succeeded in making terms with the company, by paying about what it cost to enter and survey the land.

In December, 1836, the sudden change in the weather occurred. Mr. Longworth was then at his father's house, about a quarter of a mile distant, and when the windstorm came, he went home, and was sheltered by timber on the way, but thought he did well to get to his house. His brother had been riding that afternoon and was wet by the rain. "When the sudden change occurred his boots were frozen into his stirrups, and when he arrived at his father-in-law's house, the stirrups were knocked loose before he could dismount. All of Mr. Longworth's chickens were frozen to death, except one tough old rooster. Much of his stock was frozen. He saw one cow, which seemed to have been frozen as she stood in her tracks. This terrible change seemed to frighten all animals, and take away their original natures, for they all huddled together, their fear of each other being overcome by their greater fear of the elements around them. A man named Houser had just come to the country with horses, cattle, sheep, and other stock, and they all huddled together in a log stable, and the next morning were covered with a white frost, which was .the frozen moisture of their breath.

Mr. Longworth has experienced nearly all of the hardships to which the early settlers were subjected. He broke prairie and raised sod corn for the first crop. The corn was dropped just ahead of the plough as the sod was turned over. The dropper rode on the plough. The corn was planted in every third furrow.

Mr. Longworth has raised a family of intelligent, happy children, three sons and three daughters. They are full of humor and pleasant, practical jokes. They are :

David Newton Longworth (called Newt !) and Albert Longworth, live at home, though both have farms. Newton is connected with the drug store in McLean, which is carried on by Longworth & Palmer.

Mr. Longworth lacks one inch of being six feet in height. He is a man of very good humor, appears to be very fair-minded, and has the perfect confidence of the community where he resides. He has been school treasurer, and has assessed the township more than all of the other assessors put together. He has been elected constable, and re-elected against his will, and'at last refused to qualify.

Old Towk

Lewis Case was born, February 27, 1809, in Ontario County, New York. His father's name was Abner Case, and his mother's name before her marriage was Olive Holland. Both were full blooded Connecticut Yankees. Abner Case was a soldier in the war of 1812. He was a private and served under Generals Scott and Harrison. He saw the burning of Buffalo, the blowing up of Fort Erie, and was at the battle of Luudy's Lane. During the latter fight he was stationed in an orchard. During his service under General Harrison he was slightly wounded, having three fingers of his left hand shot off. Mr. Case drew a pension until his death, which occurred January 6, 1854. His wife died on the day following, and both were buried in the same grave in "Wisconsin, near Madison.

Lewis Case lived in Ontario County until he was sixteen years of age. There he received his education, which was that of the common school. The scholars in that section of country complied with the custom of those days, which was to bar out the schoolmaster on Christmas day. At one time they barred out the master and the contest lasted three days. They fortified themselves in the schoolhouse and stood the siege. The people near by gave the scholars plenty to eat, lots of cake and cider and fuel to burn in the fireplace. The schoolmaster tried to smoke them out by covering the chimney, and for a while it seemed that he would succeed ; but the scholars put out the fire by pouring on cider, and stopped the smoke. After three days the contest ended in breaking up the school

In the year 1824, the family moved to Huron County, Ohio. They lived in the woods among the large timber wolves, which were very plenty. At one time a timber wolf was caught by the fore leg in a trap, and the dogs were collected from all over the country to fight it, but it whipped them all.

In July, 1833, Lewis Case came with his wife and child to McLean County, Illinois, and settled on Kickapoo Creek, on the north side of Old Town timber. "When they first came, they went to Bloomington, and the first man to welcome them and give them their dinner was General Gridley, who then boarded at James Allin's. During the following winter, the families of Lewis Case, Abner Case, Charles Lewis and Thaddeus Case, fifteen persons in all, wintered in a little house fourteen feet square. Their household goods were put up around the sides of the room on pins. They had two bedsteads and two trundle beds. A part of the folks were obliged to retire at night before' the remainder could make their beds on the floor. During that winter Mr. Case cut, split and hauled logs for a house. In the spring the house was built, and in April they moved into it. It was a small cabin, but Mrs. Case had room in it for a spinningwheel and a loom. She spun and wove the clothing for the family, and when her girls were large enough they also were taught to spin and weave. She made linsey, jeans and linen, and the family lived happily in the rude cabin with their homespun attire. For three years they remained in the little cabin and then moved to where they now live.

For thirteen years, the house of Mr. Case was used as a preaching place by the Methodists. This was the first denomination here. After a while the Cumberland Presbyterians came in and joined with the Methodists and built the Union Church. But the old church having served its time, the Methodists built a new one called the Hopewell Church. The old building was sold for eighty dollars in money, which was divided between the two denominations that built it. George Gar now uses the old church for a barn. The people seemed to enjoy themselves very well at the meetings held at private houses. The congregation often filled the house, and sometimes the bedding and furniture were carried out to make room.

The early settlers were always anxious to have their children educated, and were willing to make all sacrifices. School was kept during one summer in Mr. Case's barn. Mrs. Case was careful to see that her children attended punctually and regularly, and says that one of her children missed only two or three days in the year.

Mrs. Case was an industrious woman. She made clothes tor people and took her pay in work. She made coats for the men, and they in return made hay or ploughed for Mr. Case. She made a coat for Senator John Cusey, and he made hay for a

On the 13th of October, 1831, Mr. Case married Sarah Hendryx, in Huron County, Ohio. He has had five children, ol whom four are living. They are :

Mr. Case is five feet and nine or ten inches in height. His head is partially bald, and his nose is Roman. He is a worthy man and thinks much of his family and friends. He is hospitable and kind to all. He has succeeded well and has accumulated enough property to make him comfortable; but his industrious habits cling to him, and he continues to carry on his farm as in t,he days of the early settlement.

Harvey Bishop, eldest son of William Bishop, was born August 2, 1821, in Virginia. In the year 1833 the Bishop family came to Illinois. William Bishop wished to obtain land for his children, and it cost too much in Ohio.

Mr. Bishop obtained his education in a log school house during the winters, as all the pioneer children did. The school teachers in those days were severe ; and Mr. Bishop remembers an instance where the courts interfered, and a teacher was fined for the severity and brutality of his punishment. He went to school for one winter to John Magoun in Old Town and found him a most excellent teacher. He never punished his scholars, and they all liked him, aud he had great success. It was then very evident that Mr. Magoun would remain an old bachelor, as he did not pay his addresses to the ladies of Old Town. He was a very conscientious teacher, and his scholars had confidence in him.

Mr. Bishop was never a hunter, and only killed one deer in his life. This was when he was sixteen or seventeen years of age. A light snow had fallen on the ground, and he asked his father for his gun to go hunting. The old gentleman allowed Harvey Bishop to take the gun, and promised him a dollar for every deer he killed. Harvey Bishop succeeded in killing one, and received his money. He frequently hunted wolves, and ran them down or caught them in traps. Mr. Bishop entered a part of the land where he now lives in Old Town, and a part was given him by his father. He entered one hundred and seventy acres of prairie and forty acres of timber, and he has been very successful in its management.

On the 25th of February, 1850, he married Mrs. Mary Ann Depew, a widow, who died November 26, 1856. One child, born of this marriage, is now dead. On the first of January, 1861, Mr. Bishop married Miss Mary Ann Hart, of Old Town. Their only child, William Henry Bishop, lives at home.

Mr. Bishop is five feet and eight inches in height, is rather spare in build, has blue eyes, uses spectacles occasionally, has hair light colored and rather thin. He is good-natured and very kind in his manner. He has served in various positions in the township. He has always been very independent in his political affiliations and has usually voted for the best men, regardless of party. He does not belong to any church, but is a man of integrity and correct principle. Mrs. Bishop takes a great deal of pride in her husband, and she is in every respect worthy of him.

Frederick R. Cowden was born November 30, 1811, in Allen County, Kentucky. His father's name was James Cowden, and his mother's name before her marriage was Lucy Rives. He is partly of Irish descent. He was raised on a farm and worked in a tobacco field, but had no particular adventure. When he became twenty years of age he went to Warren County, Kentucky. There he became acquainted with Mr. John Price, whose sketch appears in this volume. They often hunted together, and killed a great deal of game. They frequently shot at game, both at once, and tramped on each other's toes to know when to pull the trigger. If only one shot took effect it was supposed that Price had missed !

In the fall of 1833 Mr. Cowden came to Greene County, Illinois, where he lived until 1834, when he came to McLean County. He started with Elias Wall and James B. Price, but left them at Ranellville, Kentucky. After traveling two days, he met two of his cousins going to Illinois, and he went in company with them. When he arrived in McLean County, he went to work sawing lumber with a whip saw. This lumber, sawed by hand, was sold to John Rhodes for two dollars per hundred, and is now a part of his barn. Mr. Cowden sawed finishing lumber of white walnut for parties in Bloomington, and also for the first hotel at Mt. Pleasant (Farmer City). He hunted occasionally with John Price, and killed a great many deer and turkeys. Mr. Cowden tells some jokes on John Price, which caused great amusement. Price was a good hunter, but for some unexplained reason he, at times, could scarcely kill anything. Mr. Cowden says that Price once shot some thirty times in one day at deer without hitting a single one. The latter complained of a flaw in the gun, but Mr. Cowden killed three deer in one day with it, and said that the flaw was now gone. Mr. Price could kill game afterwards. Mr. Cowden says that Price was very cautious about approaching a wounded deer, and once killed a buck, which ran into a clump of brush and died ; but as Mr. Price had some suspicion as to whether the buck was really dead, he rode around the thicket and fired at it seven or eight times ! Mr. Cowden once wounded a deer, but would not shoot again, for fear of being laughed at, and grappled it. The struggle which followed was so severe that Cowden wished he had given the deer another shot.

Mr. Cowden has a lively recollection of the sudden change in the weather in December, 1836, and says that at the time when the ice suddenly formed on the Ivickapoo, three travelers came along and attempted to cross, but one of them lost his horse under the ice, as the creek was very high and the water flowed rapidly. Mr. Cowden broke the ice during the following day and assisted the travelers over.

Mr. Cowden is about six feet in height, is rather solidly built, has blue eyes, and hair and whiskers perfectly white. His head is becoming a little bald. In his younger days he was very strong, and a good hunter. He is a man of good business qualifications. He is rather humorous, and particularly enjoys a good joke on his respected father-in-law, John Price. Mr. Cowden was for two years supervisor. He has been in poor health for some time, and thinks this is due to the exposure and fatigue which he endured in his younger days. While hunting he seldom stopped for any obstacle, but waded or swam creeks and bore every form of hardship, and now he thinks he is paying the penalty.

William Evans, jr., son of William Evans, sen., whose sketch appears in this volume, was born June 3, 1815, in Huron County, Ohio. In the year 1825, the family started for Illinois, intending to make a settlement on the Illinois River. But when they arrived at Keg Grove (now Blooming Grove) they thought the country so fine that they settled there. They made their settlement about four miles south of Bloomington, where the Orendorfls had built their cabins. Nothing of unusual importance occurred until 1827, when a storm came through Blooming Grove, tearing down the timber and scattering the trunks and limbs in every direction. Just after this storm Cheney Thomas wished to sell a claim to Mr. Evans, sen., where Bloomington now stands, for a hundred bushels of corn. But it so happened that the corn which Mr. Evans, sen., had planted, was covered up by broken limbs of trees, and was thought to be ruined. He therefore hesitated about making the bargain. But William Orendorff, who was standing near, said: "Take it, Evans, if you haven't enough corn, I have." Mr. Evans made the bargain, and in order to help him fulfill it, Mr. Orendorff1 gave Evans five acres of growing corn. The claim now forms a part of Bloomington, and is worth a large amount of money. Mr. Evans, jr., says : "William Orendorff* was one of the best men that ever lived on the green earth." About nineteen days after the storm, William Evans, jr., James Orendorff, and others, found a hog which had been pinned to the ground by limbs of trees. They cut it loose and drew the exhausted animal home on a sledge. It recovered, and showed its gratitude to its deliverers by making a fine porker.

The Evans family were obliged to go for many years to mill to Attica, on the Wabash, one hundred and twenty miles distant. Afterwards they went to Fox River, eighty miles distant. They frequently went to mill at Peoria and Pekin. Ollendorff's mill was put up some time afterwards, on Sugar Creek, about twentyfive miles distant. The}' could get a little corn cracked nearer home, but not well done. During the winter of the deep snow the}' ground corn in a coffee-mill, and sometimes pounded it. Before the snow became packed, they went four miles to Bailey Harbert's mill, breaking the road both going and returning, for the drifting snow soon filled up their tracks.

William Evans, jr., and his brother, took great pleasure in catching wolves. During one winter they trapped forty-five of these troublesome pests.

The education of William Evans, jr., was attended to as well as possible in the West. He went to school to old Billy Hodge, and says that this gentleman was a very good teacher, though a little severe with the scholars.

On the 8th of April, 1886, Mr. Evans married Mary Jane Murphy, daughter of Thomas Murphy. He has had ten children, of whom seven are living. They are :

William Evans stands six feet hio-h in his stocking's, has erray hair and whiskers, and clear gray eyes, with an honest expression in them. His voice is firm and clear, with an honest ring to it. He is very accommodating, and left his business, which was somewhat urgent, for the purpose of giving information for this work- He is one of the most reliable of men, and loves humor, of course, as the genuine old settlers do.