Prairie Township

Prairie Township

One morning in May long ago, a young man rode across the Illinois prairies with a friend. They passed on over the boundless expanse, far out of sight of any human habitation, thousands of flowers blooming around them everywhere, their beauty and fragrance surpassing all that they had ever dreamed of floral loveliness and perfume. It seemed as if the whole world had been converted into green grass, blue sky, blooming flowers and glorious sunshine. The scene was one that might have inspired the sweet "Southern" singer, when she

Hundred of people, abounding with poetical sentiment, have essayed a description of the great prairies of the West, and made hysteric attempts to por¬ tray their feelings when first beholding them. No doubt they were " grand and gorgeous " (the prairies, not the people) in their pristine beauty, before the husbandman came to mar and destroy their loveliness, by turning things (liter¬ ally) " upside down." Whether or not the little scene noted at the beginning of this chapter occurred in Prairie Township, long ago, when its territory was the undisputed possession of the gopher and the prairie wolf, we cannot say^ We have the authority, however, of a gushing writer of the period, that it did occur somewhere in Illinois, and so we apply it to this section, on the strength of its adaptability. Nearly the entire town is prairie land, and is a part of the Grand Prairie, which, as already stated in this work, extends into Edgar County. There is but little timber, and that along the margin of some of the streams passing through the township. Of these streams, all tributaries of Brouillett's Creek, we may mention Jonathan Creek, Lick Run, Salt Fork, Crab Apple Creek and Bonwell's Branch. Some of them are small, and perhaps wholly dry up in summer, but afford excellent drainage of the land.

Prairie Township lies in the northeast part of Edgar County, and is the very " corner lot " of the county. It is bounded on the north by Vermilion County, on the west by Ross Township, on the south by Brouillett Township and on the east by the State of Indiana. It is one of the best farming districts in this section of the country, and has a large number of highly-cultivated and productive farms. Its fine rolling prairies are especially adapted to agriculture, and the amount of grain annually produced is not equaled, perhaps, by any township in the county. Much attention is paid to stock-raising, many of the farmers carrying this branch of business to a considerable extent.

Settlement

Prairie Township, being almost destitute of timber, was not settled as early as some of the other towns and sections, abounding in timber. The pioneers did not believe the prairies would ever be good for anything but cattle range, and hence, the prairies were the last land to be settled. The first cabin erected in Prairie was by Sylvester Barker, whose history is pretty thoroughly given in Brouillett Township. In the spring of 1825, he and a brother-in-law, Rich¬ ard Jones, and an uncle of his wife, David Wise, located in this town. Mr. Barker s cabin being the first one put up after they came to the place. But owing to the wild nature of the country, and also deeming it sickly, Barker remained but about six months, returning whence he came, and spending the winter at his father-in-law's, Jacob Jones. In the following spring, he located in Brouillett Township, as noted in the history of that town. Their experience in

Prairie was quite interesting, though during most of the time it was also unpleasant. They were young when they settled there, and had but one child, just old and large enough, says Mrs. Barker, to be everywhere and into every¬ thing; Mrs. Barker had a long and severe spell of sickness, and, as they had no close neighbors (only two other families in the town, and they some distance off), when Mr. Barker had to leave the house, he would either take the child with him, or tie her to the bedpost until he returned. Mrs. Barker informed us that the opossums were so plenty in the country, and so troublesome they would come in the house while she was sick, get in the victuals, and annoy them very much.

The other two families mentioned, Jones and Wise, remained permanent set¬ tlers of Prairie Township. Jones, who was a son of Jacob Jones, an early settler of the county, and noticed in the history of both Hunter and Brouillett Townships, settled on the site of the present town of Scotland. He remained a resident of this township until 1870, when he removed into the city of Paris, where he died about 1873. As stated, Wise was an uncle to Jones, and to Mrs. Barker, and came from the State of Maine. He settled half a mile west of Scotland, and both he and his wife have been dead for years. Their children, too, are all dead, except two sons, one of whom lives in California, and the -other at Cherry Point, in this county.

Horatio Blanchard came from Brown County, Ohio, and settled in Prairie Township, in 1830. His original location was on the west side of the town, and he remained here until 1835, when he sold out and removed into Ross Township, where he still lives an enterprising citizen. He lived on one place for about forty-five years. At the close of the Black Hawk war, he walked all the way to Chicago and back, remaining there on this visit several months, and was there at the time the treaty was made with the Indians. The following year he repeated the trip, which was through an almost unbroken wilderness, inhabited only by Indians. The houses were often twenty-five miles apart. While in Chicago on this trip, he helped to build the first brick house erected in the Garden City. His first neighbors, he says, were Daniel and Lewis Camerer, of Brouillett Township, Col. William Wyatt, Judge Lowry, John Wilson, John Hannah, Israel D. Sayres, who lived in other sections of the country around him. He made a trip to Chicago every fall with his team for several years, hauling to that market grain and fruit, and bringing back groceries and salt. He made one trip to Rock Island with his team, via Joliet, taking dried fruit and feathers and, returning via Chicago, brought back to this settlement a load of groceries. When he settled here, game was so plenty that he often shot turkeys and deer from the door of his cabin. He is further noticed in the history of Ross Township.

John Wilson, who was one of the early settlers of Brouillett Township, was from Kentucky, and after living there but a short time, removed to this township. Remaining here a few years, he sold out, and with a large lot of stock - horses and cattle - went to Oregon, where, at last accounts of him, he was still living though almost a hundred years old. John Hannah came from Ohio. He went into the late war from this township, at the time an old man in years; came back and soon died from disease contracted while in the service. Daniel Newcomb, Edmund Clarke, John Jackson and Samuel Lowry were also from Kentucky. Clarke is dead, but his widow, and a son or two, are still living in the neighborhood. New'comb first settled in Brouillett Township ; is now dead, but two sons are still living. Lowry was a branch of the Lowry family, men¬ tioned so often in these pages, and moved away years ago. Jackson was one of the early settlers, but has been dead fifteen years or more. Josiah and George Thompson were among the early comers to Prairie Township. Joseph remained but a short time, and removed back South, where he came from. George was his nephew, and bought out Barker, when the latter moved back to Hunter. He has been dead about twelve years, but has a son living here and a daughter in Chrisman. Solomon Smith and Samuel Scott were early settlers in the township. Smith died last fall. Scott has been dead some six years, but has several sons living, who are wealthy. He was a native of Kentucky, but had been living some time in Indiana before coming to Edgar County. He has several sons, as above stated, living in the county still, and a daughter, all of whom are in good circumstances. David Light, another of the early settlers of Brouillett, was also an early settler in this town. His early history is given in the chapter devoted to Brouillett; also his encounter with a wolf is given in that chapter.

This brings the settlement of the towmship up to a period when people were coming in so rapidly as to render it a difficult matter to keep a record of them. The virtues of the prairies had been discovered, and immigrants w ere beginning to push out on the broad plains, among the tall grass, and stake out claims and put up cabins, that sometimes could scarcely be seen above the grass, and in every direction might be seen the long .teams, usually consisting of three or four yoke of cattle, breaking the prairie land and taking the initiative steps for mak¬ ing the magnificent farms to be found in this locality at the present day. -

Historical Facts And Events

The reader will notice in the map of Edgar County, two lines running through Prairie Township. That one passing through in a northwest direction is called the 10 o'clock line, and the one running a little east of north, the 1 o'clock line, and are the boundaries of a body of land purchased by Gen. Har¬ rison of the Indians, for the United States Government, as noted in another chapter. These lines intersect a short distance north of the county line in Ver¬ milion. The land east of the line, running north and south, wras surveyed sev¬ eral years before that on the west side, and by some carelessness, oversight or other cause, the section lines do not jibe,' or make a considerable jog, as will be seen by reference to the county map, and the variation seems to increase on the west side of the line, as it is laid off to the north, so that by the time the north line of the county is reached, the regular Congressional townships are completed at the line of the queer little corner extending down in Prairie Township, while it takes another tier of sections to complete them on the west side. Hence the north line of the county in the center of Prairie Township (at the little corner) is the north line of Town 16 north, Range 11 west, while the north line of the county is the north line of Town 16 north, Range 12 west. But why the little neck in the extreme northeast corner of Prairie Township was kept to Edgar County, or why the north line of the county was not run straight across from east to west, without making the little corner above described, are conundrums, and we, as well as everybody else, give it up. It is said to be a great annoyance to the people living in this little three-cornered boundary, preventing them from knowing just where they live, almost, whether in Edgar or Vermilion County.

At the March term of the County Commissioners' Court, in the year 1854, it was ordered that an election precinct, to be designated as " Prairie Precinct," be laid off and bounded as follows: Beginning at the county line one mile west of the northwest corner of Town 16 north, Range 11 west ; thence south to a point north of Range 12 west; thence east to the State line; thence north with the State line to the northeast corner ; thence along the county line to the beginning. And that the place of holding elections in the said precinct be at the house of Henry Mathers. Z. W. Riley and Miller Ingram were appointed Justices of the Peace. At the September term, 1855, precinct boundaries were changed somewhat, as noted in other parts of this history. When the county adopted township organization, in 1856, the boundaries of Prairie Township remained the same as Prairie Precinct. The present Supervisor of the town is Frank Maddock ; the Justices of the Peace are M. D. Scott and J. W. McGee.

At one time there wTas supposed to be salt in Prairie Township. The fol¬ lowing story is told of an old Dutchman, who used to live at Fort Harrison, of how he was " taken in" by the Indians. The red men told the Dutchman that there was a salt-spring capable of making much salt, and for his gun, horse and money, they would pilot him to the place, and that the salt was plenty enough to make him independently rich forever. The Dutchman took the bait, and the Indians led him into Prairie Township, on what is called Salt Fork, to a place that seems to have been a kind of deer-lick. It was a basin four or five rods across, tramped down a foot or two below the surface of the surround¬ ing county. Here they put on a kettle of the salt-water to boil, to try the salt¬ making capacity of it ; and, whenever the Dutchman's back wTas turned, an old squaw, whom the Indians had with them, would throw a handful of salt into the kettle. Thus the test proved satisfactory to the Dutchman, who, according to contract, paid over the promised sum to the Indians. Suffice it, the salt-spring turned out a swindle, and the Dutchman lost his horse, his gun and money ; the Indians proving for once, at any rate, too sharp for their pale-face friends. Since that time the little stream where this incident occurred has been called the Salt Fork instead of North Fork, as before

Schools, Churches, Etc

The first school taught in Prairie Township was by Mrs. Nancy Jones, the first wife of Richard Jones, one of the first settlers of the town. She was said to be a most estimable lady, and taught this school in 1830, in her own house, long before there were any schoolhouses built in this section of the county. They then lived where the town of Scotland now stands. The next school taught in the town was several years later, in the west part of the township, and was by a man of the name of Haines. This was the first school in this section, and was patronized by all the people living along the creek, both in Prairie and Ross Townships. Such was the feeble beginning of the schools of Prairie Township, which have since then increased in numbers and character, until they compare favorably with those of any section of the county. The town is laid off into the usual number of school districts, in which have been erected good, com¬ modious school-buildings, furnished with all the modern school furniture, and are well attended by those entitled to their benefits.

The first sermon preached in the township was by an old Dunkard preacher, of the name of Thompson, who used to preach in the settlement at a very early day. The churches of the township are Wesley Chapel, belonging to the M. E. Church, but used at present by the United Brethren, under the pastoral care of Rev. Mr. Baty. The church edifice was built in 1867, under the pastorate of Rev. T. Winns, the first M. E. minister on that circuit. This church is also used by the Christians, who have quite a flourishing congregation, in charge of Rev. Mr. Williams. Several of the schoolhouses are also used for religious meetings occasionally, and Sunday schools are maintained in many parts of the town.

Bonwell Post Office was established in 1851, and was located near where Wesley Chapel now stands. Arthur Bonwell was the first Postmaster, and held the office about four years. It was eventually discontinued, after the laying out of Scotland. The railroad crossing the township from east to west, known as the Indianapolis, Decatur k Springfield Railroad, is one of the early rail¬ road projects of the State, and was surveyed as the Air-Line Railroad, from Indianapolis to Springfield. But after its survey was made, like many other similar projects, it was dropped, and lay dormant until, a few years ago, it was completed under the above title. The township donated §1,200 to the building of it. A full history of it is given in the county history, and but a few words are necessary here. The road is of vast benefit to this section, and carries immense quantities of grain, stock and coal. The political aspect of Prairie is a little mixed at present, and it is hard to say just which way the political cat wTould jump. It was a \\ hig precinct in the old times of that party's popularity.

The Village Of Scotland

Scotland is a little village of two of three hundred inhabitants, situated on the Indianapolis, Decatur & Springfield Railroad, about four miles from Chrisman. It was surveyed and laid out by George W. Foreman, County Surveyor, for William Scott, and the plat recorded September 17, 1872. Mr. Scott, one of the most enterprising citizens, and for whom the town is named, donated one-half of the lots embraced in the original plat to the 1., D. & S. Railroad, the railroad company selling the lots to individuals. The post office was estab¬ lished here in 1875, having been previously discontinued at Bonwell. A. Burson was appointed Postmaster, and has held the office ever since. William Scott built a flouring-mill here in 1873, which, having changed hands several times, has passed back into his possession. A very handsome and substantial twostory school-building has been erected, and is an ornament to the little village. A graded school is conducted from six to nine months of the year, and well patronized. The land upon which the building stands was donated by Mr. Scott and the I., D. & S. R. R. Company. The present business of Scotland may be summarized as follows : Three dry goods stores, Scott Brothers, H. H. Adams & Bro. and Thomas Hefflefinger ; A. Burson, drugs and the post office ; one flouring-mill, two blacksmith-shops, two physicians - Drs. Jenkins and Wright. The church history has been given in that of the township.

helped to make the change from a wild prairie country to one among the finest counties of the State of Illinois ; he is known in the com¬ munity as one among the better class of farm¬ ers and more prominent men of the county.

J. P. SNYDER, farmer and stock dealer ; P. 0. Conlogue ; is another of the natives of Edgar Co., Buck being his native township; is the son of Wm. M. and Susan E. Snyder, who were old pio¬ neers of the county, having been residents of it for nearly forty years ; he was born April 20, 1850. He was married Oct. 16, 1873, to Miss Mollie A. Brundige, also of Edgar Co., Paris being her native township ; they have one child - Frank. Mr. Snyder is now conducting the old home farm of 220 acres ; he is still a young man, in good standing in the community; has a good name and reputation which he has earned by having been honorable and honest in his business transactions, and is already known as one of the straightforward, honest men of Buck Tp.

JNO. A. SIMS, farmer and stock-raiser; Sec. 8 ; P. 0. Paris ; is of Scotch descent : was born in Edgar Co., Sept. 16, 1834 : his parents both dying when he was quite young, he spent most of his time until he was 16 years old traveling through differ¬ ent States; located permanently in his native county at this age. Was married Oct. 18, 1855, to Miss Rachel Stewart, of Edgar Co.; they have eight children - six boys and two girls. Began business for himself at the age of 21 ; had but little assistance from the home estate, but by hard work, economy and good manage¬ ment he now has a farm of 240 acres of well-improved land, valued at about $60 per acre. Mr. Sims is a pioneer whose standing is first-class in the community, and known as one among the better and more prominent class of pioneers of Edgar Co.

WM. WALLER, farmer and stock-rais¬ er ; P. 0. Dudley ; is a native of Bavaria, Germany ; was born May 27, 1822 ; came to the United States in 1846, leaving Antwerp for Galveston, Tex., making the journey in sixtv-three days ; was there about four months and then went into Gen. Scott's command in the Mexican war ; was gone about eight months and then went to Cin¬ cinnati ; worked there two years in a cotton factory; left there in 1849 and went to Hamilton, Ohio, where he followed carpet¬ weaving until 1857 ; went to Middletown ; stayed until 1863 ; then came to Edgar Co., where he has since lived ; has a good edu¬ cation. Was married Jan. 18, 1848, to Miss Margaret Grimm, of Germany ; they have nine children - five boys and four girls. Had no assistance from his parents, but by hard work, economy and good management he now has a fine farm of 675 acres of first-class land, valued at about $60 per acre. Mr. Waller is a pleasant, congenial gentleman and known as one among the wealthy and more prominent men of Edgar Co.

SAMUEL H. WELLS, Township Commissioner and farmer; P. 0. Paris; was born Nov. 29, 1841 in Edgar Co., Ill., his birthplace being Paris Tp. ; began business for himself in 1862 as a farmer; followed this for two years, and then enlisted in Co. E. 12th I. V. I.; remained in the service until the close of the war, receiv¬ ing an honorable discharge from the proper authority. Was married March 6, 1870, to Miss Sallie Elledge, of Edgar Co., Ill. ; in 1873, he moved to Sec. 29, Buck Tp., where, by pluck and perseverance, he now owns 120 acres of fine laud, valued at about $9,000. They have two children - Miss Martha B. and Mary B., both of whom are still quite young.

H. H. ADAMS (of firm H. H. Adams & Bro.), merchant, Scotland ; he was born in Venango Co., Penn., Feb. 15, 1841 ; he moved with his father's family to Ohio in 1852, where they remained two years ; thence to this county in 1854, and located in Edgar Tp. ; he was engaged in farming until 1864, at which date he engaged in milling for two years ; then moved to Champaign Co., where he farmed for two years ; then returned to Edgar Co., locating in Logan, and engaged in mercan- tile pursuits for eight years with his brother ; at the expiration of said term, he moved to this town, opening business in 1875, and, in the spring of 1876, he alid his brother consolidated their business a* this place, where H. H. has resided ever since. Married Lydia J. Osborn, 1863; she was born in Ohio Oct. 18, 1844 ; came to this county with her parents in the fall of 1853; have five children living, viz., Charles P., Lillie A., Laura A., James S. and William.

1. N. ARCHBOLD, farmer, Sec. 8 ; P. 0. Ridge Farm ; owns 240 acres, value §30 per acre. Born in Woodsfield, Mon¬ roe Co., Ohio, in July, 1833. Married Elizabeth Clark Feb. 19, 1860 ; she was born in Salem Tp., Monroe Co., Ohio, in 1833 ; they moved to Edgar Co. July 4, 1860; they have two children - Charles Clark and Gertrude N. Mr. Archbold enlisted in the war of the late rebellion October, 1864, and served seven months, at which time he was discharged on account of sickness ; was in the 8th I. V. I.

PATRICK BREEN, farmer, Sec. 12 ; P. O. Scotland ; owns 266 acres, value 825 per acre. Was born in County Tip¬ perary, Ireland, March 17, 1829 ; when about 18 years of age, he left Ireland for Liverpool, England, with the intention of sailing to the United States ; accordingly, he took shipping from said city in a sailing ship to New Orleans, and about nine weeks of passage brought them safe to their des¬ tination ; he did not remain there long, but pushed northward until he reached Cincin¬ nati, Ohio, where he stopped a few months, then moved to Gallatin Co., Ky., and re¬ mained there about nine months ; thence to Owen Co., where he found the one of his choice ; May 5, 1851, they went to Louisville, where their marriage was cele¬ brated ; her name was Mary Gill ; she was born in County Meath, Ireland, March 1, 1835, and emigrated to the United States with her parents in 1850 ; after they were married, they moved to Dayton, Ohio, staying only eleven months; then returned to Owen Co., Ky., and stayed a short time, | when they set out for Illinois, and January, 1855, they arrived in Edgar Co., and both Mr. and Mrs. Breen went to work on their arrival for J. B. Burrass, in Ross Tp. ; there they worked nine months, then be¬ gan work for Wm. Adams, where they worked six months; then to M. Chrisman, and worked for him ten years; at the expiration of said term, he began work for Charles Caraway, where he remained five years ; then returned to M. Chrisman again, and worked for him three years; then he rented the farm of S. B. Smith (deceased), and remained there four years, and one year before his lease expired (which was 1874) he purchased 186 acres of the farm which he now owns, and, one year later, he bought 80 acres more ; it was without any improvements what¬ ever, until he built a good residence, which he moved into March, 1875 ; it is now a good farm and pleasant home. They have thirteen children living, viz. : Mary, born Jan. 1, 1855; Edward, Feb. 18, 1857; Cornelius, Feb. 28, 1858; Hannah, Oct. 9, 1859 ; Matthew, Feb. 5, 1861 ; Pat¬ rick, Dec. 11, 1862; Margaret, May 22, 1864; Michael, March 31, 1866; Cathe¬ rine and Elizabeth, twins, Nov. 19, 1867 ; Ellen and Eva. twins, June 19, 1870; Jennie, Sept. 16,1872; they have eight children deceased, all of whom died in in¬ fancy ; of these, there was one pair twins.

JAMES BONWELL, farmer ; P. O. Scotland ; was born June 3, 1819 ; is a native of Brown Co., Ohio ; lived at his native place until the age of 3 years ; his parents then moved to Kentucky, where they remained until 1832 ; then came to Edgar Co. ; Mr. Bonwell remained here about two years, and then moved to Indi¬ ana, where he lived nearly ten years ; then returned to Edgar Co., and located on the farm where he now lives ; during his early life, he had no chance of getting an edu¬ cation, his parents being poor, and he, the oldest of a family of seven children, was required to work a great part of the time, but, by studying nights by the fire, he be¬ came a fair scholar ; he began business for himself at the age of 17 ; had no help from his people ; now, by his own hard work and economy, he has 140 acres of good land, well improved ; this he has earned by his own honesty and industry.

A. BURSON, railroad agent, Postmas¬ ter and druggist, Scotland ; he was born in Union Co., Ohio, March 10, 1834; came to Illinois with his father's family in 1836 ; the family consisted of father (Silas Burson), mother (Charity Bird) and nine children. They located in Coles Co., a little north of where the town of Oakland is located; early as 1836, the village was known as Pinhook. Mr. Burson was salesman in the mercantile house of G. W. Ashmore for a period of seven years ; at the expiration of said term, he engaged in mercantile business for himself for two years ; then engaged in farming for some time, and, in 1861, he sold his farm in Coles Co. and moved to Vermilion, Edgar Co. , where he engaged in the milling and also mercantile business, which he followed for about ten years, then he took contract of furnishing ties for the I. & I. C. R. R. (now I. D. & S. R. R.), at the same time run¬ ning a supply store for the railroad hands at this point. As will be seen in the general history, he built the first house in this village while the railroad was being built, in fall of 1872 ; soon as the railroad was completed, he was appointed freight and ticket agent, also agent of the American Express Co. ; was appointed Postmaster in 1873 ; all of the above offices he holds at the present time ; and in the fall of this year, he engaged in the drug business. Married Margaret S. Hicks Aug. 18, 1855 ; she was born in Indiana Feb. 23, 1836 ; the children liv¬ ing are Arthur L., Marietta, Maggie B., Edward E., Gertrude and Perley ; the deceased are Susan, Alanson G., Maudie, who died in childhood.

DAVID W. COLLINS, farmer ; P. 0. Scotland ; is a native of Highland Co., Ohio; was born Dec. 10, 1824; at the age of 9, his parents moved to Edgar Co. and settled in Brouillett Tp. ; two years after their settlement in the county, his father died, leaving the care of the family on his mother and himself ; he being then 1 1 years ; he, to help his mother, worked three months for a neighbor for fifty bushels of corn ; the next season follow¬ ing this, he got seventy-five bushels for the same amount of work ; corn beiug worth 10c. per bushel. When he was near 20 years old, he began learning the trade of a blacksmith with Jason Jones ;

, this he learned and followed as a business until 1868, with the exception of one year spent in California in 1850; in 1868, he began farming, which he has since fol¬ lowed ; during his early life, he secured by his own effort, principally, a good common-school education. He began busj iness for himself a poor boy ; now, by his own hard work and economy, he has a nice farm of 166 acres of good land, well improved. He is a man standing well in the community ; has a good name and reputation which he has earned by honesty and industry.

ALEXANDER CLARK, farmer and stock -raiser ; P. 0. Scotland ; owns 600 acres, valued at $37 per acre ; he was born in Oldham Co., Ky., July 1, 1818, and came to this county with his father's fam¬ ily in the fall of 1832 ; they located about half a mile south of Mr. C.'s present resi¬ dence, where they bought some improve¬ ments of one L. Jackson, who had been here some time. Married Nancy New¬ comb ; she came here with her parents at a very early date ; they have four children living, viz., William, Edmond, Nancy A. and Christna. Mr. Clark was elected Jus¬ tice of the Peace in 1856, and held said office eight years in succession.

EDMOND CLARK, farmer, Sec. 25 ; P. 0. Scotland ; owns an undivided inter¬ est in his father's estate ; was born March 27, 1849, in this (Prairie) township ; has been engaged in farming and live¬ stock dealing till of late, when he turned his attention solely to the care and improvement of the farm. Married Sarah J. Scott (daughter of John Scott) July 28, 1870; she was born in this township May, 1852 ; the children are Oda, Owen and Cora ; one deceased, Oma.

EBENEZER GILBERT, farmer, Sec. 18 ; P. 0. Ridge Farm ; owns 280 acres, valued at $30 per acre, and twenty-six acres timber land, valued $10 per acre ; he was born in Clermont Co., Ohio, Jan. 6, 1825 ; his parents moved to Clay Co., Ind., in 1830 ; there he resided until he was 21 years of age. Then he enlisted in the service during the Mexican war and was mustered into service June, 1846, at New Albany, Ind., 2nd Ind. V. I., under j Capt. Osborn, Col. Bolles, of Gen. Taylor's j command ; he was in the battle at Buena Vista ; at said engagement, his brother Charles D., was severely wounded in both legs, and but for the timely aid of Eben- [ ezer, catching and assisting him on a horse, the Mexican soldiers would have taken Charles prisoner ; Mr. G. served till June, at New Orleans ; then returned to his j father's, in Clay Co., Ind. Married Lydia Walker, April 22, 1849 ; she was ] bprn in Clay Co., Ind., Jan. 19, 1830 ; they moved to this county in February, 1853 ; but he had been here in the fall of 1852, at which date he entered 160 acres with a land warrant which he bought of a soldier of the Mexican war, having used the warrant in Indiana which he received for his own services in said war. He en¬ listed in the war of the late rebellion March 8, 1865, in Co. A, 7th I. V. C., and served until November of the same year; the children are Elmira (now Mrs. John Wyatt), Martha J. (deceased), William A., Jedediah, Mary (now Mrs. Almon Boomer), James (deceased), Franklin and Francis W. In the war record of the fam¬ ily, it is worthy of notice that both his grandfathers were soldiers in the Revolu¬ tion, and his father was a soldier in the war o t 1812.

MANOAH JENNINGS, farmer, Sec. 19 ; P. 0. Scotland ; is a native of Brown Co., Ohio ; was born Oct. 7, 1805 ; lived at his native place until 26 years old, then came to Vermilion Co., Ill., where he re- ; mained about four years ; removed and lo¬ cated in Edgar Co. in 1835. He married Miss Elizabeth Roney, of his native coun¬ ty ; they have a famil}7 of four children living - one girl and three boys. He be¬ gan business a poor man ; now, by his own hard work, he has 470 acres of land, well improved ; he is known as one of the solid, substantial men of Prairie Tp. and is a member of the M. E. Church.

O. Scotland ; is a native of Brown Co., Ohio; was born July 31, 1813 ; lived at his native place until nearly 21 ; then came to Edgar Co., looking for land ; stopped about one year in Indiana, and located permanently in Edgar Co. in 1834. Was married May 8, 1833, to Miss Ellen

P. Watson ; she died Aug. 19, 1870, leaving a family of five children. He married again Sept. 20, 1874, to Mrs. M. McAdo, of Brown Co., Ohio. During his early life, he got a fair education, and be¬ gan business for himself at the age of 21 ; now, by hard work and good management, he has 180 acres of good laud, well im¬ proved ; he is an old settler in the county, and one that has done his part toward

ABRAHAM LUNGER, farmer, Sec. 19 ; P. O. Chrisman ; owns 1 30 acres, valued at $40 per acre ; he was born near Elizabeth¬ town, Ohio, March 18, 1825 ; when about 3 years of age, his parents moved with their family of five children to Fountain Co., Ind. ; some twelve or fifteen years later they removed from Fountain Co. to Parke Co., Ind. ; when about 20 years of age, he went to Vermilion Co., Ind., where he engaged to work on a farm, and shortly after his arrival in Vermilion, married Mary Richie Jan. 4, 1844; she was born in said county June 19, 1823 ; after mar¬ riage they removed to Parke Co., Ind., where they remained seven years ; thence to this (Edgar) Co., in 1851, and located about two miles south of his present resi¬ dence ; and, on April 6, 1865, they located where he now lives ; like many of the pioneers of the West, Mr. Lunger's financial circumstances were quite limited, but by industry, economy and hard work of himself and frugal wife, they, accumu¬ lated considerable of this world's goods, making a comfortable home ; Mrs. Lunger was not spared to enjoy the fruits of her toil to an advanced age ; she died here July 15, 1877 ; they had nine children, four now living : Peter, died March 4, 1878; Joseph; Alonzo, died July 4, 1865; John and William, both died in. childhood ; Abraham, Jr., Margaret, Mary L. (deceased) and Maria. Joseph was a soldier in the late war ; he enlisted in an Indiana regiment.

JOHN M. LEGATE, farmer, Sec. 29 ; P. O. Scotland ; owns 225 acres, valued at $40 per acre ; he was born in Brown Co., Ohio, Oct. 14, 1819 ; when Mr. L. was about 3 years old, his father died, leaving two children - himself and sister Elizabeth ; a few years later, his mother married second husband - Israel D. Sayre ; they all moved to Illinois in the spring of 1830, locating in what is now Edgar Tp., March 21, of the same year, and bought the im¬ provements of John Welch, including a small log cabin; Mr. Legate worked on the farm with his stepfather, I. D. Sayre, until he was about 22 years of age. Then married Susan Clark March 10, 1842 ; then he purchased a farm of 160 acres near Bloomfield; sold there and, Dec. 27, 1851, he located where he now lives. Mrs. Legate was born Aug. 27, 1828, in Oldham -Co., Kv., and came here with her father's family in the fall of 1831. Mr. Legate's children are Israel D., Edmond C., Nancy (now Mrs. Lunger), Catharine (now Mrs. McFarren, of Kansas), Malinda, Francis M., William H., Laura E., Sarah and two deceased - Mary and Alex. E. Mr. Legate's grandfather, Legate, served in the Revolution as Captain under Gen. Marion. Mr. Legate recollects well when the store of M. K. Alexander was the only store in Paris ; it* was a log building about sixteen feet square ; a log house for the hotel, and one blacksmith-shop ; the above-named structures constituted the business part of the town of Paris. Mr. Legate's stepfather, I. D. Sayre, was an Orderly Sergeant of State militia during the Black Hawk war, and at the outbreak of said war young Legate was detailed to notify the citizens in this vicinity, of the . draft.

DAVID LIGHT, retired farmer ; P. Scotland; he was born in Clermont Co., Ohio, Sept. 5, 1800 ; his parents were natives of Pennsylvania, but moved to Ohio, and were amongst the early pioneers of the Buckeye State, locating above Cin¬ cinnati about 1792 ; shortly after their ar¬ rival there, his father Jacob, another man and an old lady were in a boat paddling up the Ohio near the shore, and one of the -party, a young man walking on the bank, were surprised by a band of Indians, who came swooping down on them, captured the youth and shot at the party in the boat, one shot taking effect in Jacob Light's left shoulder, which disabled his arm for life, but his friend received a shot in the breast which proved fatal, and soon as he reeled from the boat the savages dashed upon him to secure his scalp, which was then an easy prey. At this juncture, Mr. Light jumped into the river with a view to swimming to the Kentucky shore, but feeling his strength failing from the effects of the wound, he concluded to return whence he came, and meet death at the hands of the savages ; but when he reached the shore, the Indians had gone, taking captive the youth. The old lady, having concealed herself in the water's edge, was left unmolested ; as they were so near Fort Cincinnati the savages were afraid of being pursued, and made haste to escape. Soon as possible the old lady made her way to the Fort and raised the alarm, when several came in pursuit and found Mr. Light lying near the location of the scene totally ex¬ hausted, and the body of his friend still in death. The youth spoken of in this narrative was marched across the country and sold by rhe Indians to French traders near Detroit, and two years later made his way back to his home and friends. Mr. David Light's parents, with -their family of eleven children, bore dangers and priva¬ tions on the Ohio frontier too numerous and great to be justly described here. The subject of this sketch, David Light, moved from Ohio and located on Sec. 3, Brouillett Township, this county, Sept. 27, 1836; there he had purchased a farm of 310 acres some time prior ; he kept on improv¬ ing and purchasing land until he owned over 1,400 acres at one time. Married Harriet Dickinson Dec. 6, 1821 ; she was born Nov. 20, 1802, in New York, and moved to Ohio in 1816; their children are Charlotte, Benjamin F., Oliver P., Reuben S., Catharine A., Samuel H. and William W. The war record shows that three of his sons enlisted in the late war from this county; Oliver P. (now of Iowa), was Chaplain of a Minnesota regiment. Mrs. Light died Jan. 26, 1873. Married second wife, Rebecca Scott, widow of the late Samuel Scott, Dec. 13, 1874.

SAMUEL MOORE, farmer, Sec. 18; P. O. Chrisman; owns 205 acres, valued at $30 per acre ; he was born in this county May 13, 1835. Enlisted in the late war June 1, 1861, in Co. A, 25th I. Y. I. ; he received a wound in the left knee June 18, 1864, at Noonday Creek, Ga., which disabled him for about six months ; at the battle of Stone River, Dec. 30, 1863, he had a narrow escape for his life, when a bullet cut away the back part of his cap, shaving the hair from the scalp at the same time. He married Albertine Camerer Nov. 24, 1864 ; she was born Sept. 13, 1840, in this county ; have five children living - Laura, Emma (deceased), George W., Ida B., Joseph C. and Han¬ nah M. Mr. Moore's grandfather, Wells Morgan, a native of Kentucky, was one of the first settlers of Edgar Co., coming here in 1821 ; he was a soldier under | Gen. Alexander in the Black Hawk war.

Biographical Sketches

O. Ridge Farm ; owns 210 acres, valued $30 per acre ; he was born in Butler Co., Ohio, Nov. 15, 1846, and came to this county with his father's family in 1858, which consisted of parents and five children ; one sister (Phebe) remained in Ohio ; they located in Ross Tp.; had been there only two years when his father died ; they rented farms in the vicinity of Ross Tp. until 1865, at which date his mother pur¬ chased forty acres of the farm now owned by Mr. Haddock, and to which he has since added 170 acres ; his eldest brother, Stephen, went to Colorado in 1865 ; thence to Kansas ; thence to Texas, where he now resides. Mrs. Haddock, Sr., and Lorenzo reside with F. J. ; his younger sister Mary is now Mrs. Lane of Ridge Farm. Mr. Maddock was elected Township Su¬ pervisor in 1877, which office he now holds. Married Miss Ann Scott, Decem¬ ber, 1870 ; she was born Nov. 18, 1849, in this (Prairie) township ; they have one child - Terrence.

P. 0. Ridge Farm ; owns 200 acres, val¬ ued $30 per acre ; he was born Oct. 19, 1827, in Morgan Co., Ya.; emigrated with his parents to Ohio in 1831, spending the early part of his life in Champaign and Logan Cos., until 1855, at which date he removed to Edgar Co., Ill. Married first wife, Sarah Arnold, in Ohio in 1847 ; had five children by this marraige - Matilda, Felix P. and W. W.; two dead, Sarah, died Feb. 6, 1855, and an infant son; Mrs. McGee died April 30, 1857 ; mar¬ ried second wife, Susannah J. Dillon, April 8, 1858 ; two children by second wife - Martha E. and one dead, Mary J., died March 12, 1864; Mrs. McGee, second, died Jan. 2, 1870 ; married third time Nancy A. Byram, 1872 ; she was born in Ross Co., Ohio, Oct. 26, 1836 ; have three children by present wife - John A., Ada Florence and Henry Arthur. Mr. McGee was in the township previous to the township organization and worked arduously to procure said organization ; he was elected to school offices in the town¬ ship at an early date, and was elected Justice of the Peace in 1873 and re¬ elected in 1877, which office he now holds.

born May 30, 1844, in this township, less than a mile north of his present place of business ; during the years of his minority, he was engaged on the farm at home; some time later, he began farming on his own re¬ sponsibility ; at the same time, he was actively engaged in stock dealing and stock raising, and carried on the abovenamed pursuits until April, 1874, at which date he joined his brother (Robert L.) in the mercantile business ; since that time they have enlarged their facilities, and are doing a flourishing and successful business, besides dealing to some extent in live¬ stock. He married Louisba McClure April 25, 1868 ; she was born in Ver¬ milion Co., this State, April 9, 1850 ; they have five children, viz., William, Albert, Owen, Irwin and Samuel.

R. L. SCOTT, of the firm of Scott Bros., merchants, Scotland ; he was born in this township June 8, 1850, and lived on the farm with his parents until he was 21 years of age ; then farmed in partner¬ ship with his brother (I. D.) one year ; then returned to his father's where he re¬ mained one summer, and, in the spring of 1873, he built part of the structure which they now occupy, and, in August of the same year, he opened a store of general merchandise, which was the second busi¬ ness house of the kind in this place. He married Marietta Burson Sept. 12,1876; she was born in Oakland, Coles Co., Ill., Feb. 28, 1860.

A. J. SCOTT, farmer and stock dealer. Sec. 14 ; P. O. Scotland ; owns 860 acres, valued at $40 per acre, and 126 acres, valued at $25 per acre ; he was born June 1, 1833, in this township, where he has resided ever since ; has been actively en¬ gaged in raising and dealing in live-stock. Married Amy M. McClure Dec. 1, 1859; she was born in Vermilion Co., Ill., June 25, 1838; she died here Jan. 31, 1870, leaving five children, viz., Flora B., Victor M., Samuel A., William O. and Luella; Mr. Scott married second wife, Nancy J. O'Neal, Oct. 17, 1872 ; she was born in Vermilion Co., Ill., Sept. 5. 1849 ; chil¬ dren by second marriage are Adah C. and Russell F. Mr. Scott's father, Samuel Scott, was a native of Kentucky, and emi¬ grated to Indiana at a very early date; he married there Rebecca Tabor in 1818; thence from Indiana to this county, where

MRS. LUCY SCOTT, retired farmer; P. 0. Scotland; widow of the late La Fayette Scott, and daughter of Edmond Clark, one of the early settlers ; was born in this township Nov. 23, 1836 ; her late husband (L. Scott), son of Samuel Scott, was born in this township March 27, 1837 ; their marriage was celebrated Dec. 29, 1859; they have three children - Nelson, Samuel E. and Willie. Mr. Scott was brought up to farming pursuits and care of live-stock, fre¬ quently dealing in the latter ; in the winter 1866 and 1867, he purchased a cargo of mules for shipment to Tennessee; early in 1867, he started for Memphis, going by the river ; on the way he was taken ill, and received the attention of a physician at Cairo, Ill., and in a few days felt re¬ cuperated sufficiently to proceed on his journey ; shortly after leaving Cairo, he took a relapse, and expired just as their boat landed at Memphis, Tenn., Jan. 26, 1867 ; since that time, Mrs. S. and her sons have carried on the farm of 196 acres, until about two years ago, when she moved to town (where she owns property valued at 8600) to give her children an op¬ portunity of going to school.

JOHN SCOTT, farmer and stockraiser, Sec. 14 ; P. 0. Scotland ; owns 320 acres in this township, and 400 acres in Brouillett Township, valued at 840 per acre; Mr. Scott was born in Morgan Co., Ind., Sept. 6, 1820, and came to Edgar ! Co. with his father's family May, 1829 ; the family consisted of parents and five children, as will be seen in the general his¬ tory of this township. Married Charlotte j Light March 26, 1843 ; she was born in New Richmond, Clermont Co., Ohio. Dec. 24, 1822, and came here with her ! parents in 1836 ; they have seven children living, viz., Harriet R. (now Mrs. T. Jackson, of Kansas), Winfield, Serena A. (now Mrs. F. J. Maddock), Sarah J. (now Mrs. E. Clark), John C., Julia E. (now Mrs. Jas. Beck) and Samuel H. ; Nancy C. was Mrs. John Pittman; she died Sept. 17, 1878. Contented to attend to the I pursuits of his farm and improving the same, Mr. S. had no desire to seek public offices, and held none except that which he could attend to without interfering with

M. D. SCOTT, farmer; P. O. Scotland ; owns property in town valued at 81,500 ; he was born in Vermilion Co., this- State, March 28, 1834; his father, Moses Scott, was born in Kentucky in 1802, but when quite young, he moved to Indiana, and married one Margaret Bogard, in the vi¬ cinity of Greensburg ; they moved to Illinois, and settled in Vermilion Co., in 1827, where he turned his attention to farming, and conducted it very success¬ fully, and, in the advanced years of his life, became a very extensive land-owner in Vermilion Co.; his wife died there in 1855, but he survived to a riper age, and was called from scenes of weariness in 1869. Mr. M. D. Scott's attention was given to farming and live-stock dealing from boy¬ hood. Dec. 7. 1859, his marriage was celebrated with Adeline Toney ; she was born in Virginia July 3, 1831 ; their children are William, Alexander and Nora. Mr. S. enlisted in the late war, Sept. 16, 1864, Co. A, 8th I. V. I., and served about thirteen months in the Gulf Department. In the fall of 1873, he came to this village and engaged in the mercantile business with R. L. Scott for one year; April, 1876, he was elected Justice of the Peace, and was re-elected in May, 1877, which office he holds at this time.

WILLIAM SCOTT, farmer and stockraiser, Sec. 24 ; P. O. Scotland ; owns 604 acres, valued at $40 per acre, besides sixty acres more valuable adjoining the town of Scotland; he was born in Morgan Co., Ind., July 13, 1819, and is the eldest son of the late Samuel Scott, who moved here with his family in the spring of 1829 ; William was given to the care of cattle, his father having brought about forty head from Indiana when he came here, which in those days was considered no insignificant adjunct to wealth, but being unacquainted with the varieties of grass best adapted for winter feed, and saving that which was most abundant and least valuable, their cattle nearly all died during the first win¬ ter, which was one of unusual severity ; undismayed by this, as well as many other adversities, they pushed steadily onward, regardless of untold difficulty, and by dint of energy and industry they could soon see their way clear; in 1842, William made a purchase of some land for himself but re¬ mained at his father s a year later, in the rpean time improving it and preparing for moving to his own, which was a little south of his present brick residence. Having his purpose almost accomplished, he wisely took into consideration the propriety of se¬ curing one as helpmeet with whom he could share his "weal " or who could mit¬ igate his " woe " ; this, with all that it implies, he really found in the person of Elizabeth Legate ; their marriage was sol¬ emnized Aug. 3, 1843; she was born in Ohio July 10, 1821, and came to this county with her mother and stepfather (I. D. Sayre), her brother (John M.) and half-brother (R. L. Sayre) in 1830. Their children are Israel D., Samuel, John M., Robert L., Albert (deceased), Lemuel, Rebecca A., William M., Norval and Franklin; each succeeding year brought with it the reward of their industry ; everything which they turned their atten¬ tion to seemed to prosper, and it may be truly said that they made a success of their business (stock-raising and farming). In 1868, they erected their magnificent brick residence at a cost of $12,000, but Mrs. Scott did not survive long to enjoy it, for that life which matured on the border of civilization, after preparing a large family for duty and position in society, closed peacefully Sept. 28, 1869. Mr. Scott's second marriage was celebrated with Ada Jaquith (widow of the late C. P. Jaquith) Oct. 20, 1870.

J. D. SAYRE, farmer, Sec. 30 ; P. O. Chrisman; owns 400 acres, valued at $40 per acre; he was born Jan. 28, 1831, in Edgar Tp., Edgar Co., Ill., where he has resided all his life, and part of his present farm was entered by his father in 1846. Married Miss Ruth A. McFerren June 30, 1853 ; she was born Jan. 20, 1831, in Brown Co., Ohio ; she came to this county in 1852 with a Blanchard family ; she died here Jan. 27, 1856, leaving two children - Alta M. and Abby A. Mr. S. Married Eliza McFerren Dec. 25, 1856 ; she was born in Brown Co., Ohio, Nov. 8, 1833, and came to this county in August, 1854 ; the children by second marriage are Luella J., Ruth A., Matilda C., ' Estella G., Vv illiam S., Ocalla, Mary F. and Alfaretta. Mr. Sayre's father (Israel D. Sayre) emi-

I grated from Browm Co., Ohio, and, March 21, 1830, they located in Edgar Tp., this county ; the family consisted of himself, wife and two children - Robert L. and J. M. Legate (a stepson) ; Mr. Sayre died at the old homestead in Edgar Tp. Sept. 11, 1849. Mrs. Sayre, Sr., still lives at the same place with her son (Israel D.) at the advanced age of 80 years, with clear and vivid recollection of the early settlements and inconveniences to be borne in a new, unsettled country. A sketch of Mr. Sayre's family shows that his grandfather (Sayre) emigrated from Ireland when this republic was in infancy, and settled in Ohio. His grandfather Mears came from Germany at an early date, and on their arrival in Ohio he, with his wife and two children and a small party of others, were captured by the Indians at what is known as Three Islands, on the Ohio, and were marched across the country to Detroit, Mich., where the " Post Trader" bought them of the savages, to rescue them; one child of the party was injured by an Indian throwing it across a creek on their way, so that it died of the effects shortly after their arrival in Detroit.

D. C. N. SAYRE, farmer, Sec. 19 ; P. O. Chrisman ; owns 160 acres, valued at $40 per acre; he was born April 17, 1837, in Edgar Tp., this county; is son of Israel D. Sayre, who is mentioned elsewhere in the history as one of the early settlers of this county. Married Mary J. Taber Dec. 5, 1861 ; she was born in Bartholomew Co., Ind., Feb. 14, 1842 ; her father, Mar¬ tin Taber, was a native of Jackson Co., Ind. ; her mother, Elizabeth Phillips (Taber) was a native of Brown Co., Ind., but at an early date they located in Bar¬ tholomew Co., where they reared a family of seven children - six daughters and one son, three of whom are living - Lucinda (now Mrs. Kinnard, of Indiana), Sarah (now Mrs. Hanna, of this county,) and Mrs. Sayre ; her parents both died and their remains rest in what is known as the " Dougherty " burying - ground, near Columbus, Ind. After the death of her parents, Mrs. Sayre came here to an uncle (Samuel Scott's) in the spring of 1861 ; was married at above-mentioned date ; the children are - Jennetta, I. D., Alfred M., Elizabeth C., Anna V., Robert O. and Mary K.

A. J. STEVENSON, farmer, Sec. 6 ; P. 0. Ridge Farm ; owns eighty-one acres, value, $50 per acre ; he was born in Tippecanoe Co., Ind., Feb. 13, 1847 ; his parents moved from Indiana to Edgar Co. in 1851, with five children - Ruth A., Phebe A., M. L., Mary and Sarah, who was born in this county. Mr. Stevenson married Mary J. Dice Aug. 12, 1868 ; she was born near New Market, Tenn., March 19, 1851 ; they have three children living and two dead - Lizzie A. and George N., both deceased ; those living are Maggie, Olive and Charles W. Mr. S. enlisted in the late rebellion in March, 1864, in Parke Co., Ind., in the 1st Ind. Heavy Artillery, in the Dept, of Gulf of Mexico, and served there until February, 1866 ; was dis¬ charged at Baton Rouge, La., then re¬ turned to his home in Illinois ; during his term of service, he was in several hard engagements, but escaped unhurt.

L. SMITH, farmer; P. 0. Scotland; was born June 25, 1854, in this town¬ ship ; owns forty acres on Sec. 20, valued at $35 per acre, and an undivided interest in his father's estate, consisting of 420 acres, valued at $35 per acre, and sixtyfour acres timber-land, value $15 per acre. His grandfather - Abraham Smith - a native of Virginia, located in Ross Tp., where Chrisman is now located, about the vear 1818, and took a claim of 640 acres, where he reared a family of six children - three boys and three girls ; two of the latter are now living near Logan, this county, one son now in Oregon, the others all deceased. Abraham sold his claim to

M. Chrisman about 1835 ; he now resides in Bloomington, Ind., at the advanced age of about 88 years. His son, S. B. Smith, and father of L. Smith, was born as afore¬ said, in what is now Chrisman, and resided in Edgar Co. all his life-time, except three years in Missouri ; his wife was M. T. Woods, of this county ; she died here Aug. 16, 1869, leaving six children, viz.,L., Wm. M., Viola J., John G., M. M. and Annie. Their father, Shephard B., died here Sept. 18, 1871. Mr. L. Smith married Lucretia A. Robison Nov. 18, 1875 ; she was born Oct. 6, 1856 ; they have one child - Wm. M.

born Feb. 18, 1818 ; he lived at his native place until the age of 12; then came to Edgar Co. with his parents ; during his early life, he had but little chance of get¬ ting an education ; still by home study lie became a fair scholar. He was married Jan. 8, 1844, to Miss Arminta Ingram, of Hawkins Co., Tenn., but a resident of Edgar Co. at the time of marriage ; they have a family of nine children - four boys and five girls. He began business for himself at the age of 19 ; he had no assistance from his people ; now, by hard work, economy and good management, he has a property of nearly four hundred acres of good land, well improved. He is a man standing well in the community ; has a good nam