Quincy Township (part 66 of 74)

Besides the 622 acres constituting the home estate Mr. Ernest Gilhouse has two bottom tracts, one of eighty and the other of 180 acres. This land is operated by tenants. Mr. Gilhouse has had no public service, is a democrat, has attended strictly to his own affairs, and ha.s rendered a service to the coimty hardly to be measured by any of the ordinary offices and participation in public affairs. He is still well preserved at the age of eighty-nine and has led a sane and wholesome life. He has never returned to Geimany, and is hostile to any movement which would seek to reproduce in America the same conditions which he sought to escape when he left the Fatherland.

Frederick Frank Gilhouse was bom on his father's farm a half mile south of his present place August 27, 1866. He has occupied his present fann for thirty j'cai's, and has remained steadily in one locality, doing an effective work as a farmer and good citizen. On April 16, 1889, he married iliss Anna Beilstein, sister of Walter Beilstein, elsewhere mentioned. Mrs. Gilhouse was nineteen years of age at the time of her marriage. They have two children, Loren and Hilda. The latter was born in 1906 and is attending the public schools in Payson. Loren is a graduate of the Payson High School and the Gem City Business College and is now head bookkeeper and credit man with the HalbacTi-Schroeder Mercantile Company of Quincy. He married Elizabeth Heidloff and has one son. Robert.

Mr. Frederick F. Gilhouse has sen'ed as road commissioner, was deputy sheriff under Joseph Lipps and John Coombs, and in polities is a stauch democrat. He is at present precinct chairman of his party. His son is a Scottish Rite Mason and Shriner. Mrs. Gilhoiise is a member of the Congregational Church of Payson.

Henry A. Steighorst. The career of the late Henry A. Steighorst of Melrose Township is notable not l>ecause he held any conspicuous offices in Government but for the self denial, sacrificing efforts, toil and steadfast fidelity with which he pursued his private affairs and as a result of which he reared and provided well for his family. Two of his capable sons now handle the home farm in that township, and the family name is one that has always been identified with the good citizenship of Adams County.

Henry A. Steighorst was born in Kreis Hertford, Germany, February 28, 1836. He was fifteen years of age when he came to the United States with his parents. His father, Bernhard Steighoret, first located at St. Louis and soon afterward went to Quiney. Henrj- Steighorst on arriving in this county went to work on a farm at wages of $8 to .$10 a month in Melrose Township. At Quiney he learned the cooper's trade with the Hokamp farm, and worked at that occupation until after his marriage.

August 25, 1864, he married ^liss Hannah Hempelmann. She was born in Germany April 3, 1846, and was eighteen years of age at the time of her marriage. When she was six years old she was brought to the United States by her parents, Ernst and Hannah (Behring) Hempelmann, who located in St. Louis for one year and then moved to Quiney. Her father M'as a tailor by trade. The Hempelmann family arrived in Quiney in 1853. Ernst Hempelmann died there when past seventy years of age, having survived his wife some years. Hannah Steighorst has a brother, AViUiam Hempelmann, at Quiney, a cabinet maker, and a sister living in St. Joseph, ^Missouri.

Henry A. Steighorst continued to work at his trade ruitil 1877, when he rented a farm in Melrose Township for six years. In 1883 he bought the present fann now owned by his son. This comprised 141 acres, and he paid about $40 an acre for* it. It was partly cleared but had no buildings, and during the next ten or fifteen years he was constantly busy, paying the interest and principal on his debt, clearing off the rough land, erecting good buildings, and gradually converting it into the farm which it is today. The Steighorst farm is on the Pa.yson road, eleven miles southeast of Quiney. Mr. Steighorst had so much to do in meeting his obligations and in the work of making a farm that he had no time for politics and never held any ofSce. He was a democratic voter. He continued active until a year or two before his death, which occurred September 6, 1913.

His children are briefly noted as follows: "William, a teamster living at Payson ; Emma, who died at the age of forty-seven, wife of Henry Keasel ; Linnie, who is unmarried; and Henry, born January 13, 1877, and Elmer, born April 8, 1883, who are the progressive sons now in full charge of the home farm, where they have spent all their lives. Neither of the brothers is married.

James Scott spent nearly all his life in Liberty Township, for many years was a sucessful farmer, and was a man of keen intelligence and the finest qualities of citizenship. His home was 41/0 miles south of the Village of Liberty. For the last six years of his life he M'as practically an invalid, and the operation of his farm devolved upon his son. His death occurred on the 29th of December, 1918.

Mr. Scott was born in ilcKee Township of this county March 27, 1849, son of Arthur and Sarah (Fuqua) Scott. The Fuqua family has been rather a numerous one in Adams County. Arthur Scott was born in Kentucky and went from there to Ralls County, Missouri, and later to McKee Township, Adams County. When James Scott was 21/2 .vears old his parents moved to the farm where he now lives in Liberty Township. Arthur died there at the age of fiftythree and his widow survived until past eighty. All the old farm improvements and buildings are now gone. Harry Scott, brother of Arthur, also lived in Adams County a short time. Arthur Scott was an excellent farmer, and being a man of great industry cleared his land of its brush, broke the prairie, and had it all in cultivation. In the early days and when James Scott was a small boy it was a frequent sight to see deer in the woods and on the prairies. In fact they would oftentimes come into the lot with the cows. Mr. Scott saw as many as seven deer together when he was a boy. Wild turkeys also abounded. Arthur Scott and wife had the following children: Eunice, widow of Isaac Allen, of Camp Point ; Thomas and James, twins, the former of whom lived in Missouri and died there at the age of sixty-two ; Mary Eliza, wife of Marion Allen, of Clarence, Missouri ; Robert, of Oklahoma ; Dudley and Henry, both farmers at Clarence, Missouri.

James Scott was reai-ed and educated in Libei'ty Township and after coming to manhood acquired the old home.stead, and later added another 200 acres, giving him a large farm of 280 acres in one body. He put on all the present improvements. For the past six j-ears his sou Maurice has operated the farm, raising crops and livestock. James Scott spent a busy life and acquired a valuable property. He paid as high as $75 an acre for some of his land. He never held office and was a republican voter.

Februar.v 2o, 1880, he married iliss Jlartha Jimison, who was twenty-five years of age at the time of her man-iage and was born in Liberty Township, daughter of James and Rachel (Cunning) Jimison. The parents were both born in Ireland but were married in Pennsylvania and they lived for many years in Adams County, where her father died at the age of sixty-six and her mother when pa.st eighty. Mi-s. Scott is the only survivor and the youngest of six children. The others were : Sarah, who married James Xaylor, of Quincy, and died there : I\Iargaret. wlio also married and is deceased ; James J., who died a bachelor at the age of fifty ; Savannah, who married John Peatheringill ; William, who died when about fifty-nine years of age.

Mr. and Mrs. Scott had three children : Nora is the wife of ^Marion Enlow, of Avon, Illinois; Maurice and Meredith were twins, and the latter died at the age of thirteen. Maurice has spent all his life on the home farm and on September 11, 1918, married Lora Van Zandt, of Richfield Township, daughter of Albert and Relia Van Zandt.

George F. P. xnd Fred Schnellbecher. Various members of the Schnellbecher family in Melrose Township have borne a part in community affairs and the practical business of fanning and farm operation that should be a matter of pride to them and to all their friends. In former j'ears they helped subdue the wilderness to the needs of peaceful agriculture, and as land o^vners, farmers and good business men their record may be viewed with interest. Two brothers of the name above mentioned are now the practical managers of the large Schnellbecher farm ten miles southeast of Quincy in Melrose Township, and besides handling their own land thej' have for a number of years carried on an extensive business as threshermen. The Schnellbecher brothers, both George and Fred, as well as one or two others, have had pronounced mechanical ability, and they have constituted a group of men who are past masters of all the complicated machinerj' used in farming operations.

Their father was the late John Wilhelm Schnellbecher, who was born in Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, December 16, 1819. In 1845 he married Eliza- (beth Margaret Schmidt, who was born in the same country April 14, 1827. Two children were bom to them in the old country. Some six or seven years after their marriage they started for America. Elizabeth Schmidt had a sister who was already in Adams County, the wife of Fred Miller. The Miller brothers, transfer men of Quincy, are of this family. John W. Schnellbecher had no money on landing at Quincy, and he first rented a tract of land on the Mississippi River bottoms west of Bluff Hall. His wife soon found that low land a source of ill health, and they removed to higher ground. There the father secured forty acres of rough land, cleared it out, and added to it at different times until in 1882 he moved to the farm now owned by his sons in ^Melrose Township. He first bought 120 acres and eventually had over 200 acres. This farm was originallj' owTied by a Mr. Ewald, who built the present home during the Civil war times. John W. Schnellbecher continued to own the farm during the rest of his life, but turned most of its work over to his sons. He died

September 12, 1898. His wife died November 4, 1891. He -was a capable, straightforward citizen, lived a life above reproach, was a democratic voter, but his only i^ublic service was as a juryman. He and his wife were both members of the Evangelical Lutheran Church and for a number of years attended worship in the Bluff Hall Church in Pall Creek.

Brief reference must now be made to their children. Elizabeth, the oldest, died shortly after coming to America, at the age of three years. John William, born in 1850, was Ijilled by lightning June 1, 1886. He married Catherine Speckhart, now deceased, a sister of Adam and Jolm Speckhart. Maria never married and died April 15, 1918, at the age of sixty-four. Anna Katerina is the wife of William Haxel, living at Ealston, Oklahoma. John Jacob lives on a farm in Melrose Township, is associated with his brothers as threshermen, and more particular mention of him is made on other pages. Henry Schnellbecher was one of the Schnellbecher brothers in farming and threshing and died April 28, 1907. He was a bachelor. The next two are George Fi-ederick Philip and Fred. Emma is liousekeeper for her brothers.

The large farm now owned and operated by the Schnellbecher brothers comprises 463 acres, really representing several farms though under unified management. It is a general stock farm, raising cattle and hogs and all the staple grain crops of the county. It was William Selinellbecher who first took up the business of threshing, and he continued until his death. Henry succeeded him, and the business is now carried on by George and Fred. The Schnellbecher brothers have operated practically every type of thi-eshing outfit during their experience. For a few years they had three outfits during the season, and they still operate two outfits. In 1918 they threshed about 600,000 bushels of grain. Some of their customers have had them regularly every season for twenty years. Besides the usual grain separators they own an equipment of clover hullers, shredders and other machinery. The brothers are not office seekei's, are democratic voters and members of the Payson Congregational Church.

Edward Henry Meter. There stands to the credit of Edward Henty Meyer, one of the best known citizens of Melrose Township, nearly forty years of successful farming, every year devoted with increasing siiceess to the production of crops, the improvement of the land, and the bettering of the conditions of his locality in general.

Mr. Meyer's farm home is nine miles southeast of Quincy in Melrose Township. He was born in the same township, just a mile northeast of St. Antonius Church, August 24, 1860. His parents were Frederick and Hannah (Dickman) Meyer. Both were born and were married in Lippe Detmold, Germany, and started for America with three sons and one daughter. One daughter was born on the ocean, and after reaching America they settled in Adams County. They started from Germany about the time of the political troubles in that country in 1848. Frederick Meyer acquired land in Melrose Township, a tract of timber, with only a log house. It contained ninety acres and he cleared up most of the land suitable for agriculture. During the late '50s he built the brick house in which liis son Edward was born. That house has since been torn down. Frederick ilejer was very helpful and liberal of his resources, especially' among his fellow countrymen, and loaned money to a number of other settlers to aid them in establishing homes in this county, and so far as kno^vn none of that money was ever returned. Mrs. Meyer was born in Lippe Detmold May 10, 1814. Other members of her family also came to Adams County, including her brother, Fred Dickman, her sister, Mrs. Gilhouse, another sister, Mrs. Hampsmire, a cousin, Mrs. Fred Dickman, and Mrs. Herman Miller. Frederick Meyer died February 12, 1892. at the age of eighty-five. His last days were spent at the home of his son William in Burton Township. His wife died December 13, 1887. They were long members of the Zion Chapel of the Methodist Church on Mill Creek, a church societj- that has since been abandoned. Frederick Mej'er and wife had the following children : William, who died on his fai'm in Burton To^^Tiship at the age of tifty-eight; August, a farmer of Payson Township, who died September 2, 1911 ; Fred, who has a thriving real estate business at 841 South Eighth Street in Quincj'; Minnie, who died at the age of five years; Loiiis, a farmer in Burton Township ; John, a veteran threshermau who lives at the Village of Ursa ; Philopena, of Henry Klingensmith, of Grundy County, Missouri; and Edward.

Edward Henry Meyer spent his .youth with his parents, attended the local schools, and on Januarj' 29, 1885, established a home of his o^\-n by his marriage with Lizzie VoUrath. She was then twenty years of age, being the daughter of John and ilary (Kerkmann) Vollrath. For twenty jears Mr. and Mrs. Meyer lived on the old Peters farm in Mill Creek Valley, consisting of 110 acres. Later 'Mr. Meyer added to that 138 acres, giving him a well proportioned farm of 294 acres, all in one body and operated under one management. For the original part of his farm he paid $22 an aci"e and the 138 acres cost him $6,300. He has done much to improve the land. He found a bam there when he took possession, and in 1909 he erected his present good home. He followed general farming, selling fi'om fifty to sixty hogs every year, and keeps good grades of livestock of all kinds. He has found time to clear up about forty additional acres of the old Peters place.

Last but not least in the family record should be noted the children of Mr. and Mrs. ]Meyer. Clarence is a farmer in Marion Connty, Missouri. Ella has lived for several years with her aunt and uncle, Mr. and Mrs. August ileyer. Harry now opei'ates the farm of his uncle August and also owns a place of his own nearby. May is still at home. Willis was a member of the field artillery at Camp Kearney in California and is now at home. Hobart is still a member of the home circle. Albert died in childhood. The three younger children, all at home, are Edna, Nona and Llargaret.

Francis M. Amen. No better illustration of the happy and prosperous results of thrift and industry when intelligentl.v applied can be found than is afforded by the career of Francis M. Amen, now living in a fine home and in the comforts of retirement at Quiiicy. Mr. Amen gi-ew up as a poor boy in one of the poorer sections of this county, and had the hardest kind of work as his chief training and education for life. What he has accomplished has been the result of his independent efforts and resources. He owns much valuable farming land, and his farming was all of the efficient type, the best of crops, the best of stock, and the best market price for all he produced. The combined results of his long years of successful woi'k would constitute a handsome competence for all his future years if he were to sell out and combine the results in money at the bank.

l\Ir. Amen was born in ]\IcKee Township, Adams County, ilareh 10, 1843. His parents, Philip and Lena (Horn) Amen, were both born in Germany and of old German ancestry. Philip Amen followed the same trade as his father, that of wagon maker, married in the old country, and four children were born there, George, Philip, Isaac and Mary. These children are all now deceased, Philip dying in Germany, ilary and George both married and Isaac died when nineteen. During the early '30s the family left Bremen on a sailing vessel and had a most eventful voyage of six weeks. The ship took fire and the passengers barely escaped destruction by that element in addition to many shocks and fears from the tempests of the sea. The ship finally landed its passengers at New Orleans and from there the Amen family came up the river to Quincy and soon afterward went into the wilds of Eastern Adams County in ^IcKee Township. That district was rough, heavily timbered, and at that time probably contained as much real wild game as any other part of the county. There were any number of deer, wild hogs and turkeys. Philip

Amen in selecting that part of the county had in mind plenty of timber which might be utilized by him in his trade as a wagon maker. At first there was little requirement for his services as a mechanic, but as the country settled up there came a growing demand for the wagons made by Philip Amen. These wagons were hand made throughout from tongue to endgate, and some of them literally lasted a lifetime. The manufacturer took a great deal of pride in all that he did, and the prosperity of his later years was thoroughly justified by the service he had I'endered. His sons assisted him in their early lives, and the family as a whole acquired a great amount of valuable land, chiefly in the lower part of Concord Township, north of Kellerville. When in advanced years Philip Amen and wife left their farm and retired to the Village of Kellerville, where the father died in 1886 and the mother August 8, 1885. The latter was born in 1809 and the former in 1808. The mother was reared a Catholic while Philip Amen was a Lutheran. They were both thrifty and hard working and also kindly and helpful factors in their community, lending their service in periods of distress, and Philip Amen responded to every call to assist his neighbors and early settlers in putting up their log cabin homes and other improvements requiring community co-operation. The parents of Philip Amen followed him to this country in 18-i9. They landed at New Orleans, and Philip, Sr., was almost at once stricken with the cholera, then epidemic in that city, and died there. His widow escaped, and joined her sous in Adams Count.v, where she died only two years short of the century mark. Philip Amen and wife after coming to Adams County had four other children born here, Francis M., John, Catherine and Joseph. All married and all had children.

Francis M. Amen grew up under the conditions and in the environment briefly noted and suggested above. He attended school as far as possible, but the main requirement was for work and assistance in the practical affairs of life. If it were all summed together it would be found that Mr. Amen cut away and cleared the timber from at least 100 acres of land, and that is no slight achievement in itself. He has always been a good judge of land values, and has traded in and handled many tracts in this county. Buying and selling has brought him the ownership of manj' different farms, and the 400 acres he now owns constitutes some of the best land in Columbus Township, located in sections 18 and 19. This land is divided into two complete and well equipped farms, producing the finest crops and the finest of stock, including cattle, hogs, horses and sheep. Two of his sons are the active managers of these farms, and these sons have much of the enterprise and progressiveness which characterize their father. In the fall of 1913 Jlr. Amen bought his fine brick eight-room home at 2845 Maine Street in Quincy. It is a good, substantial residence, and is surrounded by ample grounds, being built on a lot 150 feet front and 190 feet deep.

Mr. Amen married in Brown County, Illinois, Mary Gruber, who was born in Germany and was three years of age when her parents came to the United States, locating first in Pennsylvania and then in Brown County, Illinois. Her father and mother were John and Anna M. (Blickhaun) Gruber, who spent the rest of their lives on their farm in Brown County. The Gruber family were Catholics, and Mrs. Amen and her children are of that faith. Mr. Amen is a democrat in politics. To their marriage were born eleven children, two of whom are now deceased. Philip lives in Quinc}^ Illinois, is married and has two sons and three daughters; Edward, a resident of Quincy and father of one daughter; Lawrence, who is a bachelor and is now filling the office of coroner of Adams County and lives with his father ; Emily, wife of Thomas Daugherty, of Qunicy and mother of two sons and two daughters: ]\Iartin, who is unmarried and is the manager of one of his father's fine farms; Ralph, who directs the activities of the other farm, is married and has a son and two daughters; Rita is the wife of Eugene Kircher, of Quincy, and has a son and

WiLLiAJi P. ilcXE-iLL represents the old and prominent ]McXeall family of Columbus Township, and his own home is in the Village of Columbus, though his chief business interests are now centered at Coatsburg, where he is manager of the Coatsburg Grain and Livestock Company.

Mr. McNeall was born at Denver in Hancock County, Illinois, June 18, 1871. son of Arthur A. and Celina (Nichols) ilcXeall. His grandfather was Abraham B. McNeall, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1810. son of Arthur and Elizabeth (Boyer) McNeall. Abraham McNeall spent his j'outh near Cincinnati, Ohio, studied medicine at Columbus, Ohio, and in 1855 came to the Village of Columbus in Adams Countj', where he gained high rank as a physician and surgeon bj' many years of active service. A number of other facts regarding his career and family will be found on other pages of this publication. Dr. Abraham McNeall married Esther Heywood for his first wife, and his second wife was Ruth A. Carroll. The three sons of his first marriage were Nathan, Arthur and David.

Arthur A. McNeall was for a number of years engaged in the drug business at Denver in Hancock County. In 1872 he returned to Columbus and engaged in the general merchandise business. On closing out that store he went to live on the farm of his wife's father in Columbus Town.ship, but after this property was sold he returned to Hancock County in 1892. For a number of years he was practically an invalid, and he died at the home of his son William P. in 1900, at the age of fifty-eight. His widow is still living at Hamilton in Hancock County at the age of seventy-four. Celina Nichols is a daughter of John P. Nichols, who was born in Kentucky in 1797, son of Thomas and Elizabeth (Perkins) Nichols. John P. Nichols learned the trade of book binder in Kentucky-, but found it disagreeable and injurious to his health, and therefore took up farming. He married Kitty Carter, who was born in Kentucky in 1808. John P. Nichols was a pioneer in Adams County, arriving in November, 1831. In February, 1834, he moved from the vicinity of Quincy to lay out the Village of Columbus. In later years he owned a valuable farm in section 19 of that township, and held various offices and was a man of much local prominence. He and his wife had twelve children, including Celina, Mrs. Arthur McNeall. Arthur McNeall and wife had two sons and two daughters: Walter S., a fanner at Mendon, Missouri; William P. ; Iva L., wife of Ed Rosberry, of Hamilton, Illinois ; and Esther.

William P. McNeall spent his boyhood years in the home of his parents, attended district schools, and at the age of twenty-one married Miss Lizzie Senner, of Columbus, daughter of Peter and Elizabeth (Kircher) Senner. Mrs. JIcNeall was born in Columbus Township, where her father was a well known and successful farmer. He died about 1910, at the age of sixty-six, while her mother is still living, aged seventy-six.

William P. McNeall had a verj' modest equipment when he married, and he and his wife started out as farm renters. The first year they spent on Job Robinson's farm, three years on the farm of Ed Yeargain in Gilmer Township, and for six years on one farm near Hamilton, Ohio. These ten years of renting gave them their real start in life, and they then invested their savings in the J. T. Trout farm near Columbus. They also bought the Samuel Clothier farm in the same locality. For the first place they paid $21 an acre and for the second $40 an acre. Mr. McNeall has made his land more than pay its way, and for a number of years has been a successful stock raiser and stock man. He is a breeder of Pecheron horses, and all his stock is of the better grade. He has shipped many carloads from his own farm.

He was one of the interested principals in the organization of the Coatsburg Grain and Livestock Company on December 12, 1917. The other partners in the enterprise are Edward Lohr, Charles Lawless and W^illis Cook.

These three gentlemen reside at Paloma. Though this is a new organization the company has handled a large amovmt of grain and livestock produced in the Coatsburg territory. They shipped forty carloads of wheat from the new crop of 1918, and on the average send about a carload of stock to the St. Louis markets every week.

Mr. ilcNeall has also figured as a merchant at Columbus, for four years being a hardware and agricultural implement dealer and for two years conducting a general store. The family enterprise is the Centi-al Telephone Office at Columbus, located in the family residence, with his daughter Nina as chief op'erator. Mr. McNeall has served on the school board and as village trustee of Columbus, is a democratic voter, he and his famil.y are ilethodists, and he has filled the chairs of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows Lodge at Columbus and is also a member of the Modern Woodmen of America. Mr. and Mrs. McNeall have three daughters, all of them still at home, named Nina, Iva and Celina.

William J. Lepper. Everyone in the Jlelrose community of Adams County knows the home of Mr. and Mrs. William J. Lepper. It is one of the conspicuous farms of the county and shows the result of mam' years of faithful labor, economical management and thrift on the part of its proprietors, who beginning on a very humble scale, in debt for their land, have not onlj- pi'ovided amply for the comforts and conveniences of life but have reared a noble family of sons to do them honor.

Mr. Lepper was born in Quincy April 25, 1863. He was the oldest of thirteen children, nine sons and four daughters. Eleven of these children are still living, all in Adams County, and seven have their homes in Melrose Townshi]i. Their parents were Frederick and Fredericka (Elleman) Lepper. Frederick Lepper was born in West Phalen, Germany, as was also his wife. His birth occurred May 15, 1838, and he died March 2, 1905. When a small boy he came to the United States with his brother Charles. After a voyage lasting eleven weeks they landed in this country and soon identified themselves with Adams Countj'. Frederick Lepper as a boy worked on a farm, also learned and followed for ten years the cooper's trade, and spent eleven years with the Bonnet & Dufl'ey Stove Company at Fifth and Ohio streets in Quincy. As a youth he was willing to take up arms in defense of his adopted country as a true American, and volunteered in the Union army, but his service was brief on account of illness, resulting in his honorable discharge. Frederick Lepper finally bought the T. V. Bishop farm in Melrose Township. He went in debt for the land, and before completing his payments made another purchase of the Winchell farm. Notwithstanding the fact that he paid as high as 9 per cent interest on his borrowed capital he got rid of all his obligations and indebtedness with the aid of his sons, and at one time owned 280 acres in Melrose Township. He was a man of the highest standing as a farmer and citizen and taught all his children the lessons of industry and honesty. In politics he was a republican. He and his wife were members of the St. Jacobi Church at Quincy. Both are now at rest in the Woodland Cemetery, where a monument stands .sacred to their memory. His wife was born in the same locality as her husband and was fourteen years old when she came to the United States, landing at New Orleans. She died July 6, 1918. She endeared herself to a large circle of friends and acquaintances and proved a friend in need to many of the unfortunate.

William J. Lepper was educated in both the English and German schools at Quincy, and since young manhood has been making his own way in the world. On October 11, 1887, at the age of twenty-four, he married Miss Mary A. Keppner. To their marriage were born six children, five sons and one daughter. The daughter, Ella ilay, is now deceased, but all the sons have grown or are growing to stalwart manhood. The oldest is Walter C, who was educated in the common schools and now lives on Thirtieth and Broadwav and is engaged iu the gi-oceiy business iu Quincj'. He is a republican. He married iliunie Robertson, and their two daughters are Graee and Helen. Wilbur G., the second son, is a substantial farmer of ]\Ielrose Township. He was likewise educated in the common schools, and his voting is done a.s a republican. By his marriage to Laura Hoerner there are three children, Virgil Walter, Pansy A. and Violet. Harvej' H. was educated in the common schools and lives in Quincy. Ralph H. has completed his school work and is gi-eatljinclined to the agricultural vocation and is living with his parents. Clarence Frederick, the youngest, is still in grade schools.

^Irs. Lepper was born June 26, 1869, ninth of the ten children, six sons and four daughters, of Christian and Josephine (Stoekley) Keppner. She and three other of the children are still living. Henry is a retired resident of Pasadena, California, was well educated and was a successful man during his active career, is a democrat and is a widower with three children. Christ Keppner is a practical and well to do farmer at Bluff Hall in Adams County and has a family of wife and three daughters, and one son now deceased. George is a farmer at LaPrairie in Adams County and has three daughters and one son.

Mrs. Lepper was educated in the common schools, and for thirty years since her marriage has sustained a noble and energetic part in rearing her family and assisting her husband in building up their home. Her father. Christian Keppner wa-s born in Baden, Germany, May 18, 1824, and died February 25. 1891. He came to America when a young man in order to escape tlie service of the German army, and from St. Louis made his way to Adams County. He worked for some years at the cooper's trade and finally bought eighty acres of land in Melrose Township. He was an arrival in Adams County when Quincy was a village and when the surrounding country was largely untouched by the civilizing hand of man. In the early daj's he frequently cut cord wood, hauled it to to^\^l and sold it for 75c a cord. In politics he was affiliated with the democratic party. He and his wife are buried in St. Antonius Cemetery. His wife also came from Baden, Germany, and was an infant when brought to this countv, where she was reared and educated. She was born October 20, 1832, and died April 16, 1896.

After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Lepper established their home on rented land, the old Keppner farm. They were there two years and then contracted to purchase the farm known as the old Beilstein place of 100 acres. It was a big responsibility they assumed, and they not only paid a large debt but with high interest rates. The difficulty of meeting their obligations was intensified because of low prices for products in those days. Mr. Lepper frequently sold wheat as low as 50 cents a bushel and hogs at 3i/4 cents a pound. Fortunately he has continued his operations long enough to reap the advantages of modeim fancy war prices. In 1917 he .sold some of his wheat for $3'^20 a bushel. On April 1, 1918, he dispo.sed of his hogs at $16.25 per 100. The first home of the Lepper family, where most of the children were born and reared, was a log house, 'with limited comforts and facilities. That old building is still standing as one of the considerable group of building improvements that have grown up on the farm. They made their home in that log house for twenty-one years. It was replaced with the present handsome and substantial house, together with many outside improvements. Today the family have their home and property absolutely clear of debt, and the entire achievements stand as a most creditable testimony to the good work and self denial of ]\Ir. and Mrs. Lepper. Politically Mr. Lepper cast his first presidential vote for James G. Blaine and has alwaj-s been a steadfast republican. He has served as a road overseer and has done what he could to support good highways. Mr. and Mrs. Lepper have surrounded themselves with many of the comforts and conveniences of life, including a good car which takes them quickly to the city and to their distant friends.

William M. Logue, a retired citizen of Clayton, has the enviable distinction of a man who has lived almost eighty years. More than six decades of that time have been spent in Adams County. Mr. Logue has put a great deal of experience, hard work and masterful activity into his lifetime. He has deserved well of his fellowmen, and some of the best riches he counts are the friendships and companionships he has enjoyed.

He was born in West Virginia July 8, 1839, son of John and Elizabeth (Mahan) Logue. His father was born in West Virginia in 1810 and his mother in Brooke County of the same state, then Old Virginia, ^larch 7, 1816. They were married March 8, 1838, and the mother died March 16, 1875, and the father in 1888. John Logue brought his family West and located in Adams County in 1855, settling in Clayton Township and acquiring 570 acres of land there. He spent his last years on the old homestead with his son William. He was a democrat and a member of the Presbyterian Church. John and Elizabeth Logue had the following children : William M. ; Joseph, who died in infancy ; John C, who was born February 17, 1842, served in the LTnion arm.y during the Civil war, was for many years a well known resident of Clayton Township, and is now living in Nebraska ; Irvin, born Jiily 17, 1843 ; James, born in 1845 ; Mary, born August 6, 1848 ; Albert, born February 12, 1850; Margaret E., born April 12, 1852; and Virginia, born January 25, 1855. Most of these children died young, five of them in 1855, and one in 1860. William and John C. are the only sons still living.

William M. Logue was sixteen years of age when he arrived with his parents in Adams County on April 8, 1855. He had attended school in West Virginia and also an academic institution at Paris, Pennsylvania. It is a long look backward to his school days, but Mr. Logue recalls with appropriate pride the fact that while at Paris he was given a prize for his penmanship. After reaching Adams County his routine was one of hard work on the farm, helping his father clear up tlie land, and eventually he succeeded to the ownership of the old homestead of 570 acres in Clayton Township, and also had some land in Brown County. In later years he sold a quarter section from the old farm, but still owns 410 acres, under a high state of cultivation, a most valu^ able property. In March, 1915, Mr. Logue left the care of the farm to others and moved to the village of Clayton, where he has one of the good homes. He is a democrat in politics, and for fifteen years while living in the country served as road commissioner. He is a devout Baptist and a member of the Modern Woodmen of America.

October 17, 1861, fifty -seven years ago, Mr. Logue married Harriet E. Davis, who was born in Cla,yton Township January 6, 1844, daughter of Washington and Nancy (Chipman) Davis. Her father was a native of Virginia and her mother of North Carolina, and they were among the pioneer citizens of Clayton Township, where they spent the rest of their lives. Mr. Logue and wife had five children : Curran E., born August 31, 1862, a farmer in Clayton Township, who married Ef6e Curry ; Julia B., born January 11, 1865, and died in infancv; Nannie C, born October 8, 1867, and died in October, 1914, the wife of b! F. Clark, and their only child, Floyd Clark, died in 1915; William Chester, born February 25, 1869, was formerly a merchant at Clayton, and by his marriage to Neva Kirkpatrick had one child, Nina : and Lizzie, born July 25, 1870, wife of G. W. Sargent and mother of one child, Elvira.

Mr. Logue 's father before coming to Adams County lived in what is known as the Panhandle of West Virginia, near the Ohio River. He was a farmer and also participated in the transportation of that day, taking a flatboat of goods down the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, disposing of his cargo at New Orleans, and returning either on foot or by boat. Mr. and Mrs. William Logue have always been very active in church and Sunday school, and have been among the leading supporters of the Baptist denomination in their part of the county. When in the high tide of his work as a farmer Mr. Logue did much

Gottlieb Buxte. The home of Gottlieb Bunte and his capable and enterprising wife and companion, to whom he gives the chief credit for their splendid success and prosperity, is at 2615 State Street, Quincy, in Melrose Township.

Mr. Bunte was born in Herford, Germany, November 9, 1857, and was eight years of age when he came to the United States with his parents, Casper and Louisa (Hadcnherst) Bunte. His father was a stone mason and butcher by trade and also a farmer. A cousin, Herman Bunte, had come to Quincy some years previously, and that was the attraction which brought Casper and his family to Quincy. He arrived with some means and soon bought a residence on Jackson between Eighth and Ninth streets. That was his home until he went to a farm, and in the meantime he followed his trade as a stone mason. For some years he farmed at Fowler Station, but finally returned to his trade in Quincy and his old home. His last years were spent partly with a son Herman in Burton Township, but his very last days were passed quietly with his son Gottlieb, who dutifully looked after both his parents in their old age. His mother died on her eighty-fourth birthday and his father passed away at the age of eight.v. There were five children in the famih*. Herman is a farmer in Columbus Township. Henry, who died at the age of thirty-three, was a foundryman. William, known as "Big Bill," died at the age of fifty-seven, and his son, Gustav A., is now a farmer and is also a clerk in the postoffice at Quincy. William, known as "Little Bill," was adopted at the deatli of his mother. His father had requested that he be known as William, and in order to distinguish these two sons in the Bunte family one was called Big Bill and the other Little Bill. Little Bill is now a retired farmer at Twenty-fifth and Broadway in Quincy. The next in age is Gottlieb, and his sister Hannah married Henry Hayner and died leaving five children.

Gottlieb Bunte learned the moulder's trade, beginning in 1875 in the Comstoek foundry. That was his business for over thirty years, until 1906, and most of his work was done in the same shop. For eleven years he was at the Sheridan factory. Most of his experience as a foundryman was in the molding of stoves. In 1906 Mr. Bunte moved to his present farm of twenty- thre*e acres just outside the city limits, where he established a dairy and is still supplying a large line of old customers with milk. He has a herd of twelve cows, Holstein and Guernseys. He also keeps a number of pure bred Hampshire hogs.

This place was the old Von der Reith place of Mrs. Bunte 's father, Henry Von der Reith, who erected the house twenty years ago, a substantial twostory, brick, six-room house, first class in every particular and comparing favorably with many city hom-es. Mrs. Bunte had cared for her parents some years, and after their deaths she bought the place.

At the age of twenty Mr. Bunte married for his first wife Anna Wellhaner. Their companionship continued for seventeen years. By this marriage Mr. Bunte had three children: Mrs. Nora Lepper, of Quincy; Arthur, a farmer in Colorado; and Elsie, at home.

January '16, 1902, Mr. Bunte married Miss Adele Von der Reith. She was born in Hanover, Germany, and was twelve years of age when she came to the United States with her parents, Henry and Catherine Von der Reith. Her father was an employe in a paper mill until he took up farming on land subsequently included in the campus of the Chaddock College at Quincj'. He bought this land from Mr. Littlefield, who had owned the site of Chaddock College. Henry Von der Reith died on his farm at the age of seventy-nine and his wife at sixty-five. Beth had been solicitously cared for in their later years by Gottlieb and Adele Bunte. Mrs. Bunte 's only brother is Claus Von der Reith, a gardener located at Twenty-fourth and Jefferson streets in Quincy.

i\Irs. Buute inherited half of her parents' estate and bought the interest of her brother in the other half. She has been a splendid helpmate to her husband and a most methodical and thorough business woman, ilr. Bunte dates his real prosperity and substance from his marriage to ^Irs. Bunte. Besides their home property they have city property.

Mr. and ilrs. Bunte have two children, Mary, in the oiBce of the Quincy Stove "Works, and "Walter. Walter, aged fifteen, is very popular along the Bunte milk route, where he delivers the product of the dairy to the customers, many of whom are among the best people in Quinej- and look upon Walter as a member of their own families.

It was on that land, which he now owns, that James Bissell Coe was born in Concord Township June 25, 1853, son of Heni-y P. and Marj- Ellen (Bissell) Coe. His parents were both natives of Connecticut. Henry P. Coe was born in that state November 27, 1817, son of Henry and Sophronia (Elmar) Coe. Mary Ellen Bissell was born in Connecticut in 1818. They married in that state, moved to Ohio in 1837, and in 1842 arrived in Adams County and acciuired a tract of government land in Concord Township. Henry P. Coe extended his possessions Until he was owner of 500 acres there. He was also a traveling salesman for a number of years. His wnfe died in 1865, and in 1866 he removed to the Village of Clayton, where he engaged in the hardware and tin business. He was quite active in democratic politics, serving in local ofifices in Concord Township. He died at Claj'ton January 18, 1897, when in his eightieth year. He was the father of four children by his first marriage : Henry P., born November 27, 1847 ; Mary Ellen, born in 1850, and died in 1854; James B., born June 25, 1853; and Charles A., born December 30, 1855. Henry P. Coe married for his second wife Mrs. Helen (Brown) Le Saage. They had one child, Edwin B.

James B. Coe spent his life on his father's farm until he was twelve years of age, and afterwards attended the village schools of Clayton and was also in school in Chicago for a time. In 1883 his father's place of business at Clayton was burned out, and in the reorganization that followed in 1884 James B. Coe took over the hardware department and continued that business from 1884 until 1909, a period of twentj'-five years. Mr. Coe also owns a farm near Clayton, and his place in Concord Township comprises 386 acres. He handles his crops and his land through the services of tenants and hired help.

]\Ir. Coe is a democrat, as was his father before him, and has served two terms as president of Clayton Village, for about twelve years was a member of the school board, and president of the board wheti the new school house was built, and during the second administration of Cleveland was appointed postmaster and filled that office six years. He is affiliated with Clayton Lodge No. 147, Ancient Free and Accepted Masons, Clayton Chapter No. 104, Royal Arch Masons, Delta Commandery No. 48, Knight Templar, and he and his wife are members of the Eastern Star and he also belongs to the Modern Woodmen of America. They attend the ]\Iethodist Episcopal Church. IMr. Coe was secretary of the Clayton Building and Loan Association during its existence.

June 24, 1885, he married Miss Mary C. Smith. Mrs. Coe was born in Pike County. Illinois, at Perry, March 9. 1862, daughter of Milby and Elvira (Summers) Smith. Her father died ilarch 14, 1879, and her mother in 1875.

Mr. and J\Irs. Coe have one daughter, Mary Greta, who has had a verv imusual experience and success as an educator. She was born December 6,

Frederick Miller

1886, was educated in the Clayton High School, in the Illinois Woman's College of Jacksonville, of which she is a graduate, and she now holds a life certificate as teacher from the State of Illinois and also from Indiana. For five years she was connected with the public schools of Clayton, was also located at Roseville, Illinois, aud for a time at River Forest in Cook County. She is now supervisor of music in the schools of La Porte, Indiana.

James Henry Craig. The Craig family have been identified with Liberty Township for over eighty j-ears. The late James II. Craig was born in that township nearly seventy-five years ago, and was long one of its most capable farmers and hardworking and straight-forward citizens.

He was bom on an adjoining farm June 23, 1844, and died at his home place in section 36, five miles southeast of Liberty Village, June 9, 1909, aged sixty-four 3'ears, eleven months aud seven days. His father, John Craig, was born in Kentucky August 10, 1812, and when a child went with his parents to Indiana. In 1830 he came to Adams County and settled in Liberty Township. In 1S36 John Craig married Agnes Farmer. She was born in Alabama Jlay 18, 1818, and was brought to Adams County by her father in 1835. John Craig was one of the prosperous pioneers of Liberty Township, owned 400 acres of land, aud died August 28, 1877. He and his wife had twelve children, aud of those to reach mature years there were four daughters and six sons, named i\Iilton, Sarah A., Charles W., James H., Perleta J., John C, Jasial, Andrew J., Lucy E. and ]\Ialvina A. Those who survived James Henry and have since died were : Sarah, Mrs. Gordon, who died at Santa Rosa, California ; Mrs. Lucy Hunsaker, of Decatur, Arkansas; ilrs. ilalvina Callahan, of "Wichita, Kansas; Jesse, of Timewell, Illinois; Jackson, who lived with his brother James; and Paulina A. Miller. Those who died before James were ililtou, who served as a Union soldier from 1862 in the Seventy-Eighth Illinois lufantiy to the end of the war, and afterwards lived in Liberty Township and died about a year before his brother James ; Robert, who died in early youth ; and Charles, who died at the age of thirty-five.

May 23, 1883, James Heurj' Craig married Miss Sarah Miller. Theii-s was an ideal companionship for over a quarter of a century. For four yeai's James C'raig served as deputy sheriff under his cousin, George Craig, aud during that time lived in Quincy and had charge of the jail. His home farm comprises 160 acres, a part of his father's old homestead. James Craig built the present house just before his marriage and afterward put up barns and there lived an industrious and peaceful life. He was a democrat. He was not a church member but attended the Pleasant View Baptist Church of which Mrs. Craig is a member.

Frederick ^Iiller was one of the pioneers of Adams County, and the family have been numbered among the good citizens of this localit.v for over eighty years.

Frederick ililler was born in Germany February .5, 1821, sou of David and Dora ]\Iiller. When he was a small boy his parents came to the United States, lived in Pennsylvania and Ohio several years, aud in 1836 esrabli-slied their home in Liberty Towu.ship of Adams County, near the present village of Kingston. David ]\Iiller and wife both reached advanced years, she passing away at the age of eighty. David Miller finally moved to Liberty Township with his three sons, Frederick, Gottlieb and Jacob, all of whom settled in the same locality. Jacob later moved to Hancock County and died there in advanced years. Gottlieb spent his last days at Barry, where he died January 12, 1896. His son, AVilliam Miller, is a merchant at Barry. Jacob has a son David who is in the lumber business at Carthage, Illinois.

Frederick Miller was about fifteen years old when he came to Adams County. He grew up here aud in November, 1847, nuirried Elizabeth Perkins. She was born in Iowa August 30, 1830, aud died July 30, 1908. Her parents were Solomon and jMary, or Polly (Ogle), Perkins. Solomon Perkins was born in Kentucky and was brought to Illinois at the age of seven years. At the age of nineteen he married ^lary Ogle, then sixteen. She was born in St. Clair County. Illinois, in 1802, daughter of Rev. Benjamin Ogle. Solomon Perkins served as a captain in the Blaekhawk Indian war, being at that time a resident of Sangamon County, Illinois, About the close of that war he moved to Des Moines County, Iowa, and in 1844 came to Adams County. In 1852 he again went to Iowa, and when an old man, at the age of eighty-four, he moved out to Butler County, Nebraska, where he died December 17, 1886, at the age of eighty-six. His wife also died near David City, Nebraska, November 8, 1884, aged eighty-two.

Frederick Miller learned the lilacksmith trade when a youth and .'iet up a shop on his farm, working in it day and night and hiring help to run the farm until his own sons were old enough. His farm was on the township line between Liberty and Ridgefield townships, and contained 270 acres. It is still owned by his heirs. Frederick Miller was reared a Lutheran, and always adhered to that religion, while his wife was a Baptist.

Frederick Miller and wife had six children to reach mature years: Sarah, who was born on the old Miller farm November 28, 1848, and is now the widow of James H. Craig ; Isaac, a resident of Macomb, Illinois ; George, who spent his life in Liberty Township and died at Coatsburg at the age of fifty-one ; ^lary, wife of William H. Barnard ; Emma, who has never married and for years devoted herself self-sacrificingly to caring for her parents at their old home and is now living with her sister ilrs. Craig ; and Calvin F., a traveling salesman whose home is at Macomb.

Henry L. Adair, father of the present state's attorney of Adams County, has long been a prominent factor in the farming and stock raising interests of the count}', and though never inclined to politics made a very enviable record while on the board of supervisors.

Mr. Adair was born in Honey Creek Township December 14, 1855. His father, Willis M. Adair, was born in Nicholas County, Kentucky, and came to Illinois when a young man. He bought 400 acres in Honey Creek Township, and lived on that place the rest of his life, clearing and impro\ing and otherwise making his industrious presence felt. A few years after coming to Adams County he returned to Kentucky and brought some Short Horn Durham cattle, both male and female, and these no doubt were the first of these cattle brought to Adams Countj'. Mr. Adair died April 6, 1866. He was one of the leaders in the democratic party, and served as assessor for fifteen or twenty years and also as school director. He was twice married. His second wife was Margaret J. Hester. She was born in Tennessee February 4, 1829, and came to Adams County when a young girl. She was still very young at the time of her marriage. She survived her husband half a century and at her death in January, 1917, lacked only a few days of being eighty-eight years of age. She kept her children together, reared them on the old farm, and about 1895 went to live with a daughter at St. Paul, ]Minnesota. afterward lived with a daughter at Springfield, Illinois, and about 1910 established her home in Clayton, where she could be near her son Henry L. Her four children were: Henry L. ; Joel D., a farmer at Carthage, Illinois; Emma, who was married to John McGinley and died a few years later ; and Amanda, wife of D. C. Frederick, a railroad man living at Springfield, Illinois.

Henry L. Adair grew up on the old farm in Honey Creek Township and had active charge of its cultivation and management from about the time he was fifteen or sixteen years old. When he was twenty-six he married Miss Emma Pevehouse, daughter of J. J. and Susan Pevehouse, of Brown County. Mrs. Adair was born in Brown County, her parents living four miles east of Clayton. In order that she might remain near them Mr. and Mrs. Adair sold their interests in Honey Creek To^^ship and bought a place two miles east of Clayton in Adams County and half a mile from the Brown County line.

the breeding of fine hogs. Since 1880 he has been one of the foremost exponents of the Poland China, and is not only a pioneer breeder of that strain in this county hut in Illinois. He developed the business as a specialty and for many years directed practically the resources of his farm and his personal management to this line. He exhibited his stock in all the nearby county fairs and also at the state fairs, and won his share of the prizes. For many years he held annual sales at the farm, employing a professional auctioneer, and these sales were always attended by a large number of farmers and others interested in the Poland China stock. Most of his animals were sold for breeding purposes, and they did much to raise the standard of swine all over this part of Illinois. Mr. Adair continued this special branch of his business actively from about 1890 until 1907. In 1890 he moved to Clayton Township, and at the present he and wife have 140 acres, eighty acres of this being in Clayton Township and sixty acres in Brown Township. A part of this land came to his wife through her father's estate.

His term as supervisor from Clayton Township ran from 1906 to 1912. He was chairman of the board in 1910-11, and at the same time was chairman of the board of review. It was onlj^ at the urgent request of his fellow citizens that he consented to become a candidate for the office. His fellow citizens were especially interested in the subject of bridge improvement, and they selected Mr. Adair to carry out their plans and ideas. As .supervisor he at once secured appropriations for the constriiction of several bridges, each costing $1,500. Three of them were built wholly of concrete and the other two of steel. During his term one of the important improvements in the village limits of Clayton was a bridge, and the village being without funds for building it Mr. Adair secured an appropriation from the county board. The bridge, of concrete, was constructed at a cost of $1,000. Mr. Adair is an active party worker as a democrat and has served as a member of the County Central Committee. He is a member of the Masonic order and the Modern Woodmen, and Mrs. Adair is identified with the Methodist Episcopal Church.

They have two sons, J. Leroy Adair, state's attorney, and Orville Ray. The latter is a merchant miller at Clayton, and by his marriage to Marie Love has two children, Ruth Virginia and Grace Mary.

George "William Keasel. A stanch and intelligent farmer and one of the upright and progressive citizens of Melrose Township, the home of George William Keasel is thirteen miles southeast of the eourthou>se, close to the Quincy-Payson road.

This is the old Keasel homestead, and Mr. Keasel was born there in the house which he .still occupies July 29, 1873. He is a son of Henry and Catherine (Ertle) Keasel. Both parents were born in Germany. The father came to this country when a young man, and he and his wife were married at Quiney. For several years he was teamster for the Eagle Jlills in Quincy. About 1860 he bought eighty acres of partly cleared land in Melrose Township, and took pos.sessiou of it when its chief improvements were a log house and barn. He built the present house in 1868, also the barn, and increased his acreage by twenty. He worked out of debt, made a good farm, and was always regarded as one of the careful, methodical and successful farmers and one of the very public spirited citizens of his locality. He was a democrat and was a member of St. John's Lutheran Church at Quincy, but in later -\Tars attemled the Bluff Hall Church 5i/i miles from his home. Henry keasel died October 18, 1902, and his wife July 25, 1900. They had two sons and two daughters: Elizabeth is the wife of Henry King, Sr., of Quincy, Henry lives in Fall Creek Township on the old home place, Catherine married William Albsmeyer, and died in Kansas, and George William is the youngest.

George William Keasel has spent his life on the old farm except a few years when he rented. In 1917 he returned to the old place to take active

October 24, 1917, Mr. Keasel married Miss Emma Vorndam, of Quincy, daughter of Casper H. and Frederica Yorndam, who reside at 522 Jackson Street in Quincy. Her father is a watchman in the local foundry. Mrs. Keasel is a member of St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Quincy.

Maetin "Wolf. The home of ilartin Wolf is in Melrose Township, ten miles southeast of the eoiirthouse, whore the Payson road crosses Mill Creek by the arch stone bridge. This locality has been familiar to Mr. Wolf from his earliest recollections. The old bridge was built in 1856, and almost at the same spot and in the same year, November 15, 1856, Martin Wolf was born to his parents, William and Elizabeth (Wagner) Wolf.

William Wolf, his father, was a native of Kentucky and was brought to Adams County by his parents, Jacob and Sophia Wolf, in 1834. They settled on the old farm a half mile north of the present farm of Martin Wolf. William died in 1877, at the age of sixty-three. As an Adams County pioneer he cleared up a portion of the wilderness, and he built the house which is still standing on the farm and still owned by the family. Jacob Wolf died at the old home aged eighty-four, and Sophia died at the same age but four years later. Jacob's children were: William; Barbara, who married William Manigold and both died in Liberty Township, their son Louis now owTiing their old farm ; Sophia, who married B. Miller, and both died in Quincy; Louisa, who married Henry Dover, and she died in Quincy ; and Fred, who in young manhood went out to California and has never since communicated with his family.

William Wolf man-ied at the age of thirty-five Elizabeth Wagner. She was born in Germany and was eighteen years of age when she came to Adams County, and her home was in Melrose Township until her marriage, at the age of twenty-seven. She and her husband then occupied their eighty acre farm, about "half of which was bottom land along Mill Creek, and built the house still occupied by their son Martin. William Wolf spent the rest of his days developing the farm, and upon that he concentrated all his energy and enthusiasm. He had no time for public office, though he was a very loyal democrat. He was also a member of the Lutheran Chiarch at Quincy. He died in 1877, and his widow survived until May, 1908, at the age of eighty-four. William Wolf had a family of eight childi'en, five of whom reached maturity. Jacob, who for eighteen years was employed in Dick's brewery at Quincy, and died at the age of fifty-six ; Henry, of Melrose Township ; JIartin ; William, of Quincy ; and Barbara, who died in 1900, at the age of forty-two, the wife of Henry Kamphaus.

Martin Wolf has spent his entire life on the farm. He bought the old place and for a number of years supplied a home and every comfort to his mother in her declining years. He has increased somewhat the area of the old place, and has done much to improve and increase its general value and productiveness. He has the farm in use for general crop production and livestock. Mr. Wolf has held no office, and is content to vote the democratic ticket.

At the age of twenty-seven he married Miss Elizabeth Hubcr, daughter of Lawi'ence and Elizabeth (Zoph) Huber, of ]\Ielrose Township. The Huber home is foi;r miles northeast of the Wolf home and three miles west and south of Burton, where Mrs. Wolf's father settled and cleared up a good homestead still owned by the son, George Huber. Mrs. Wolf was born on that farm and was twenty-two years of age at the time of her marriage. Her father was a native of Baden and her mother of Bavaria, and they were married after they came to Quincy. Mrs. Wolf was only three months old when her father died. She was one of the seven children left to the care of her mother, who did a noble part by the children, rearing them to lives of usefulness and honor, and herself living to be seventy-two years of age.

Mr. and Mrs. "Wolf lost one daughter in childhood named Rosina. The oldest of their four living children is Edward, who farms iu Pike County, Illinois, on one of the Seymour places. He married Emma Bock, daughter of William Bock. Their three children are Grace, Doi-othy and Edna. Albert, who farms the home place, married Kate Dietrich, daughter of Nicholas Dietrich. They also have three children, Rosella, Malvin and Paul. Clara married Matt Blickhan, of ^Melrose Township, and is the mother of four children, Mary, Hilda, Elsie and Joseph. The youngest child, Mary, is still at home wath her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Martin ^Yolf. The Wolf family are members of St. Antonius Catholic Church.

John Robert Abbott. The Township of Melrose has had no citizen whose work and interests have been more closely identified with its general welfare than John Robert Abbott, who now and for some years has been the efficient sujiervisor of the township. He is a native of Adams County, was formerly a resident of Quincy, and for a number of yeai's has been in close touch with the agricultural affairs of Melrose Township.

Mr. Abbott was born December 31, 1866, and his birthplace was within a stone's throw of the banks of the IMississippi. He is a son of William H. aaid Annie (Kennedy) Abbott. He was the fifth in their family of ten children, four sons and six davighters, seven of whom are still living but only two are residents of Adams County, the other being former Mayor Abbott of Quincy.

William H. Abbott was bom at Barnstaple, Devonshire, England, September 29, 1831. He represented the thrifty class of people who for generations have characterized the population of old Devon. As a youth he attended the national schools, and also worked in his father's woolen mills. He was superintendent of these mills, but when about twenty-six years of age left the old country and came to America. The voyage was made on a sailing vessel, and he was eight or ten weeks in crossing the ocean to New York. He remained in New York State a couple of years, two or three years at London. Ontario, and from there came to Adams County. Part of the time he followed the trade of brick and stone mason, and for a number of years was projjrietor of a restaurant and bakery on Front Street in Quincy. He finally moved to the country and spent his last years as a farmer. He died September 24, 1894, and his remains are at rest in the Woodland Cemetery. In New York City William H. Abbott married Miss Annie Kennedy, and they came together to Quinc.y. She was born in County Antrim, Ireland, in July, 1838, and died Januan' 17, 1906. When she came to America she was eighteen years of age, and had a very perilous trip. The voyage was made in an old type of sailing vessel called the Enterprise, and it was beset by stomis and other misfortunes until it finally became almost a derelict. The boat was driven from its course and was almost thrown on the bleak and inhospitable shores of Greenland. At one time the ship was thought to be sinking and the hatches were nailed down. A number of sailors, owing to exposure to the severe cold, had hands and feet frozen and many amputations were necessary. It was seventeen weeks before the boat finally made harbor at New York. Mr. John R. Abl)ott now has among his private possessions an old English Bible which belonged to his grandparents and which was published in 1823. Thus it is ninety-five years old.

John R. Abbott was educated in the common schools of Adams County, and also did much to improve his mind by self study. He has always been an exceedingly busy man. In early life he was clerk in several of the stores and commercial establishments at Quincy. He learned the harness and saddlery business and for about twelve years followed that trade in Quincy.

January 19, 1898, he married Miss Cora May ^Martin, who was born on Oak Street in Quincy February 10, 1871. She is a daughter of Iliram G. ajid Elizabeth (Pate) Martin. She was one of five children, only two of whom are now living, her brother Frank having for a number of years been an engineer with the Burlington Railroad, but now a coal mine superintendent at Carterville, Illinois, where he lives with his family. Mrs. Abbott was educated in the citj^ schools of Quiney and is a woman of keen intellectual intei-ests and deserves her full share of the credit for the prosperity she and ]\Ir. Abbott have enjoyed.

In 1899, the year after their marriage, they moved to a farm in Melrose Towniship and since then they have made for themselves a comfortable home and prosperity and have been active participants in the life and affaii's of the community. Their farm comprises sixty-seven acres of fine land on the State Aid road, located about five miles from the courthouse. Mr. Abbott is both a grain and fruit raiser.

He has always given his active political allegiance to the democratic party. He is one of that increasing number of men who appreciate the character and the fine ideals of statesmanship in President Wilson and ardently hope and exert their influence toward the success of his policies in this countiy and abroad. Mr. Abbott had lived in ilelrose Township only a few years when his qualifications for public office brought him to the front. He was first elected township siipervisor in April, 1908. That was a close and hotly contested campaign, his rival for the office being C. S. Heam, one of the best known citizens of the township. In 1910 Mr. Abbott was re-elected, and was again elected in 1914, re-elected in 1916, and his party has again made him candidate in 1918. In politics and in public affairs Mr. Abbott has stood for .straight and honorable principles and methods, and has kept the township business free from everything that would savor of inefficiency. He has always advocated proper improvements for the township in keeping with its place in Adams County. The nine schools of Melrose Township are in excellent condition, and Mr. Abbott was a very important and instrumental factor in establishing the good roads, especially the splendid State Aid road, which runs through the township as a continuation of State Street in Quiney. As a party man Mr. Abbott was selected as a delegate to the State Convention of Peoria in 1906 and also attended state conventions at Peoria in 1912 and at Springfield in 1914. He is affiliated with Preux Chevalier Lodge No. 18 of the Knights of Pythias at Quiney.

Mr. and Mrs. Abbott have always striven to broaden their interests, not only in the community life about them but in those things that go on in the world at large. One of the most delightful experiences they have enjoyed during their married life was an extended tour they made in the year 1907 to eastern cities with the primary objective the Jamestown Exposition at Norfolk, Virginia. They left Quiney May 24, 1907, went by way of Cincinnati to Gordonsville, Virginia, and were in Virginia long enough to appreciate the true character and flavor of southern hospitality. From Gordonsville they proceeded to Washington, District of Columbia, and they carry in their memories all the historic sights and scenes of the nation's capital, including the various Government buildings and the White House, the noted thoroughfare of Pennsylvania Avenue, the little Ford Theater where President Lincoln was assassinated, and other landmarks. They also went to Mount Vernon, visiting the home of the Immortal Washington and also his tomb, and spent many interesting hours in the house and about the gro\nids of ]\Iount Vernon. From there they went on to the exposition and also visited Old Jamestown. Mr. and Mrs. Abbott have some interesting relies of the little red brick church, the material for which was brought from old England more than three centuries ago. ]\Irs. Abbott brought back a piece of bark from the large tree that stands in front of the old church ruins. Leaving Jamestown they went through Washington to Philadelphia and to New York City, spending three days in the metropolis, and came home by way of Niagara Falls, where they spent three days, and altogether made a trip of 3.000 miles, every- mile of which they thoroughly enjoyed and made an opportunity for instrueti*on and lasting impressions.

Philip Ehrh.vkdt. A long life and one that meant much for himself, his family and his community was that of the late Philip Ehrhardt of Melrose Township, who died at the farm and home which liis efforts and service of many yeai"s had perfected on January 6, 1913.

He was born in Thuringen, Germany, December 15, 1827, and was in his eighty-sixth year when he died. He came to the United States at the age of thirty-three, in company with a party of neighbors. In his native village he liad worked in a brick yard, making brick and tile, and his earnings all went to his parents until the last .year. On coming to Adams County he was employed by William Wand, father of John Wand, at farm labor at 50 cents a day. He continued such employment with such meager wages until after his mairiage.

In St. Boniface Church at Quincy on August 30, 1859, he married Justina Mast. She was born December 15, 1841, also in Thuringen, Germany, and was about nine years old when her parents, August and Katharina (Schrecke) Mast, came to America. The Mast family spent six years in Marion County, Missouri. Katharina Schrecke 's brother Ferdinand was then living in that county, a cooper by trade. At the end of six years Mr. and Mrs. Mast came to Adams County and rented in Melrose Township near St. Antonius Church. August ]\Iast enlisted for service in the Civil war, and his son John also went with him, being then nineteen years of age. He and his son were in the same company. At the end of one year August was discharged, but John remained until the close of the war. On returning home August j\Iast secured a farm on the Payson road in Melrose Township, and lived there until his death at the age of sixty-three. His widow survived him and passed away at the age of seventy-nine, at the home of her daughter Mrs. Ehrhardt. In the Mast family were six children : Justina ; John, whose .service as a Civil war veteran has already been referred to, became a farmer near Moberly, Missouri, and died there in ilay, 1915 ; Henry, a resident near Moberly ; David, a farmer who lives near the old homestead in Melrose Township and operates the old home farm; Philip, who lives near the farm o^^^led by his brother John in Randolph County, Missouri ; and Bernhard, whose home is in the suburbs of Quincy.

Philip Ehrhardt after his marriage went to farming. He had saved some money from his meager earnings and about that time he received $100 from the old family property in Germany. He bought a team and rented land for five years, and then bought the homestead which Mi-s. Ehrhardt still owns. Be paid $2,000 for fifty acres, paying about $400 down and borrowing $85 to pay his share of the bounty raised by the township to secure recruits for the army. This was during the Civil war. ^Ir. Ehrhardt paid 10 per cent interest on a loan of $1,000, and before the principal was reduced he calculated he had paid out $1,200 in interest. He finally got the interest rates reduced to 8 per cent. In spite of all those handicaps his constant struggle with fortune enabled him to accumulate a good farm of ninety-nine acres. It was an era of the lowest prices, when eggs sold at 4 cents a dozen and poultry at 5 cents a pound. The Ehrhardt family lived for several years in a log slianty, with tlie cracks stuffed with corn chucks. The building contained only one room, and the window had b;it half a sash. After two yeai*s he built a somewhat better home, made more commodious by a loft, in which the children slept. There was a hole in the ground for certain supplies, but there was no regular cellar under the home for twenty-six years. About 1896 Mr. Ehrhardt built the substantial residence in which he spent his last years. He took an interest in citizenship, became an American voter a.s early as possible, and was a democrat but never soiight office. He could write the German language, but never became familiar with the English script. He was a member of St. Antonius Catholic Church, and all the deceased members of the family are buried in the churchyard nearby.

The family of Mr. and Mrs. Philip Ehrhardt comprised the following children: Emily, who died in infancy: Justina, who died at the age of eight years; Henry, who died in infancy; Maria K., wife of John Lenz, of Jlelrose Town- ship, referred to iu later paragrai^hs : Philip, who died iu infancy ; Joseph, who lives adjoining the old home and operates the farm for his mother ; Henry, who died in infancy; Herman I., who owns a hardware business at Qnincy; John, on a farm near the old homestead ; Moritz, who died in infancy ; Elizabeth, wife of Anton Sanders, near i\Ioberly, Missouri ; Marj' Anna, who died in infancy ; Maria Rosa, wife of Joseph Kroner, living near Moberly, Missouri ; and Albert W., who is a bookkeeper in Quincy.

John Lenz has spent most of his life in Adams County, has for over thirty years been a prosperous farmer, and owns and cultivates one of the good places in Melrose Township.

He was born at New Orleans November 23, 1862, son of Nicholas and Selma Lenz, who came from Alsace Lorraine. After a brief stay in New Orleans they came north and settled at Qviiucy and later moved to Melrose Townsliip, occupying- the farm in section 25 where their son John now lives. Nicholas Lenz died here in 1884, at the age of sixty-three. His widow survived him thirteen years and passed away at the home of her son John at the age of seventy-two.

John Lenz gi-ew up in this county, attended the local schools, and in April, 1887, married Miss Maria Katharina Ehrhardt, who was then twenty-one years of age. Mrs. Lenz is a daughter of the late Philip Ehrhardt.

For six years after his marriage Mr. Lenz rented a farm on ilill Ci'eek, and then returned to the old homestead and at the death of his mother bought out the other interests. He has continued farming there for a quarter of a century and has a well improved estate. He and his wife are the parents of four children. John, Jr., is a farmer in Melrose Township. Katherine married William Dietrich and died ten months later. Nicholas is the family representative in the American army, serving in Batterj' D of the Three Huuclred and Thirty-sixth Field Artillery with the American Expeditionary Forces in France. Elizabeth, the youngest, is at home.

George Frederick Loos. This volume contains several sketches of the Loos famil.y, who have long been prominent and siiceessful people in Adams County. One of them is George Frederick Loos, now living retired at 514 North Twelfth Street in Quincy. Mr. Loos gave the greater part of his active years to farming and developed one of the best places in Melrose Township, now occupied by one of his sons.

Mr. Loos was born August 10, 1848, in Melrose Township, in the Mill Creek Valley. His father, John ilichael Loos, a native of Krurabach. Hesse Darmstadt, Germany, came to America in company with a considerable party headed by John Speckhart. He had been a laboring man in Germany, working in a slate quarry. He was twenty-four when he arrived at Quincy, and here he found employment during the summer in a brick yard, and during the winters worked in a pork house. That was his employment for four years. He married at Quincy Miss Mary Walthaus, a daughter of Henry Conrad and Mary Margaret "Walthaus. She was three years of age when her parents came from Germany, and after two years in Pennsylvania the Walthaus family located in Adams County and for many years lived on a farm in jMelrose Township near St. Antonius Catholic Church. Henry Walthaus spent his last days with his daughter Mrs. Loos. Grandfather W^althaus and Grandfather Loos lioth built small log houses on the farm, and having come from the same locality in Germany they spent many happy hours together dviring their last years. One of these grandfathers served under Napoleon, and the flintlock mu.sket he carried is still kept by the family. John Michael Loos at the time of his marriage settled on a farm, and that place is still owned by his son William.

George Frederick Loos being the oldest son had much to do from an early age on the farm. He acquired 143 acres of his own, and continued to operate it until 1913. He built a fine house, standing on an elevation and affording a view for many miles in all directions. Mr. Loos was a practical, general fanner. He also bought a farm two miles east, where one of his sons now lives. During the past five years since he has lived in Qiiiney 'Sir. Loos has emploj'ed Ms leisure time working in the Pape & Loos ilills, in which his son Charles is a partner. j

November 18, 1869, he married Miss Aurelia Louise Heidenbrich. She was born in Quincy February 2, 1851, the home in which she was born standing on the present site of the State Street Bank Building. She is a daughter of Henrj^ and Johanna Heidenbrich, who came from Germany as a young married couple. Henrj' Heidenbrich died during an epidemic of cliolera. He had worked as a laborer in this country, and in Germany had been employed as a coachman. He left two children, Amelia and Aurelia. The mother kept her children with her and later manned Daniel Jlerker, a farmer of ^Melrose Township. Mrs. Loos has two half-brothers, Fred and John Merker of Quincy, and one half-sister, Marj^ Merker, now Mrs. Henry Mangold. Her sister Amelia married Adolph Montag, a country butcher who later moved out to Denver, Colorado, and Mrs. ]\Iontag died in that state.

Mr. and Mi-s. Loos had the following children: John William, to whom a special sketch is dedicated on other pages; Charles Frederick, member of the firm Pape & Loos, millei-s at Quincy ; Frank, a farmer near Meudou, who owns one of his father's farms in ^Melrose Towiiship; Arthur Henry, a farmer near Paj'son ; AViUiam Albert, a farmer near ^lelrose Chapel ; John Walter, a farmer in Mendon Township ; C. Herbert, who now occupies the old homestead; Laura, wife of William Speckhardt, a Fall Creek Township farmer; Selma Melissa, wife of Walter Schroeder, who lives in Melrose Township, four miles east of Quincy ; and Clara Johanna, wife of Walter Henry Simmons, who is an architect and has a large practice at Eldorado, Kansas.

Mr. Loos out of his prosperity was able to give each of his sons a start, and aU of them have made good in business affairs. Mr. Loos served thirty-three years as a school director in his district, succeeding his father in that ofSce. He was also a road commissioner six years. He is a democrat, and a member of the Salem Evangelical Church at Quincy.

George Joseph Bookhold. The large and handsome property represented at his home five miles southeast of the courthouse on Payson road in ilelrose Township George Joseph Bockhold has acquired and developed in a comparatively brief time, having made his start as a farm owner and farm manager less than twenty years ago.

Mr. Bockhold was bom in ilelrose Township, near St. Antonius Church, May 7, 1872, son of Bernard and Christina (Voegeding) Bockhold. Some of the experiences and incidents in the life of his father are referred to on other pages. At his father's death George Joseph Bockhold was executor of the estate. He was at home to the age of sixteen, and then worked five years for his brother Henr^- at wages of $12.50 a month. However, the wages went to his father. Later he worked in a brick yard in Quincy at $1.50 a day for one season, and during the winter was employed in a pork house. Then for three years he was in the stove foundry at Quincy, receiving $8.50 a week. He had a rather particular job, one requiring skill and experience, in charge of feeding the cupola for melting the metal. When the company moved to Chicago they held out inducements for him to follow, but he decided to remain behind, especially since he had married and had made plans to become a farmer.

For a few months Mr. Bockhold fired lime kilns. He then rented a fanu in Melrose Township and continued as a renter until he bought his present place, the William Schneider farm, containing eighty acres. This was in 1900. He paid $4,600, assuming a debt of over $6,000, part of it for tools, teams and other equipment. It was a strenuous program he laid out for himself, and he satisfied it in every particular and a number of years ago got clear of debt. For some years he rented much land besides that in his own farm, and has pursued a very effective policy in building up the soil. He has followed the plan of deep plowing and the rotation of clover in addition to a variety of other crops. He has kept all the stock his farm would carry, and has never sold a ton of hay or grain. He has a fine herd of cows, and feeds a bunch of hogs every year. Mr. Bockhold has also built some important out buildings, including hog houses and silo, and his farm is in every sense in a high class condition.

Mr. Bockhold besides his w'ork at home has found time to serve the public welfare in various ways. For three years he was road commissioner and four times he was nominated by the democrats for township supervisor, being defeated by a small margin each time. He is township committee man of his party, was delegate to the state convention of 1918, and has a large acquaintance among those prominent in politics over the state.

In 1895, at the age of twenty-three, Jlr. Bockhold married Miss Anna Matilda Blaesing, daughter of Bernard Blaesing. Her father was born in Germany and married Mary Goesina Kroner. The Blaesings were long prominent as farming people of Melrose Township. Mrs. Bockhold was born in that township. Mr. and Mrs. Bockhold lost three children. Those still living are Stella, Kosena, Elizabeth Florence, Agnes Anna, Alois George, Helen Mary and Margaret Anna. All these children are still at home. The family are members of St. Antonius Catholic Church 11/2 miles from their home.

John Wand. Some of the richest and most productive land of Melrose Township has responded to the eft'orts of three generations of the \Yancl family, who are properly considered among the progressive and successful agriculturists of that locality in Adams County. The old Wand farm and home is nine miles southeast of Quinc.y, and is now owned by Mr. John Wand, who was born on the farm, and the third generation of the family is represented by his son, the farm manager for the last ten or twelve years.

John Wand was born July 19, 1853, son of William and Margaret (Bergman) Wand. His father, a native of Germany, came to the United States with a couple of companions and was a farm laborer in Adams County. In 1849 he joined the tide of gold seekers in California, and spent several years on the gold coast, mining and following other occupations. With some capital saved from that venture and experience he returned to Adams County in 1852 and bought a tract of sixty-eight acres in Melrose Township, paying about $30 an acre. It was partly improved, but much of it was in timber, and contained only one or two log buildings. He went to work clearing away the woods and brush, and gradually added to his possessions until he had 360 acres. The home place proper constituted 240 acres, but all his land lay in practically one body. He was a very strong and resourceful man both pliysically and mentally, and left his farm as a substantial testimony to his efforts and enterprise. One of the large barns on the farm was built by him about the close of the Civil war and has been standing and in constant u.se for half a century. William Wand and wife were married in Marion County. Missouri. She had come to this country with her parents. William Wand and wife finally retired from the farm and moved to Quiney, where they bought a home and where they both died in 1881, he on a Wednesday and she the following Saturday. He was then sixty years of age and she fifty-eight. He was a democrat, and had served as road commissioner for the good of the community. The family were all members of St. Anthony's Catliolic Church 51/0 miles from their farm. Both parents were laid to rest in the St. Boniface churchyard at Quiney. A brief record of their children is as follows: William, who was a farmer near the old place but died in Quiney ; Christ ; John ; Enoch, who was a farmer but finally retired to Quiney, where he died, and his widow and family are living in that city; Mary, unmarried; Margaret, who lives in Quiney, widow of Gerry Vanden Boom.

Mr. John Wand has spent all his life on the old homestead. He attended the local schools, and as soon as old enough assumed a share in the manage- ment of the place and later acquired 160 acres of the home farm for himself. He biiilt a substantial residence in 1895. He has always kept his interests on the farm, has devoted his land to grain and stock raising, and for the past twelve years has turned over the chief responsibilities to his sou.

At the age of twenty-six Mr. Wand married Miss Caroline Kaltenbach, who was reared in Payson Township of this county, and was tw^enty years of age at her marriage. She is a daughter of 'William Kaltenbach, and a member of the well known Kaltenbach family elsewhere referred to. Mr. and Mrs. Wand had three children : Edward ; Eugene, a plumber at Quincy, with Best Brothers; and Elnora, wife of Frank Awerkamp, a bookkeeper at Quincy.

Edward Wand was born on the home farm April 15, 1880. At the age of twenty-five he married Mary Benz, daughter of Joseph Benz. They have two sons, John Edward, born in 1916, and Joseph William, born in February, 1919. John Wand is a democrat but has never sought any public honors.

William Wesley Horner, now living retired in the Village of Camp Point, has had much experience to identify him with Adams County. He cultivated and gathered crops from the land for nearly half a century, and he can appreciate more than most living citizens the wonderful conveniences and facilities which the modern agriculturist enjoys, over those who performed the labor of planting and gathering crops in the early days.

The Horner family has been a factor in Adams County citizenship for nearly seventy years. William Wesley Horner was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, Febniary 5, 1839, and was a boy of ten years when brought to this county. His parents were William and Maria (Hudson) Horner, also natives of Ohio. When they came to Adams County they settled in Columbus Township, buj-ing eighty acres of unimproved land. W^illiam Horner had made the first improvements and was only just getting comfortably located when he died June 1, 1854, at the age of forty years. His widow survived him just forty years and passed away in 1894, at the age of sevent3'-five. Their children were : Elizabeth, William Weslej', Eliza, Rose Ann, deceased, Albert L., Cynthia, Zebulon, deceased, and Alice.

William Wesley Horner finished his education in an old log school house near his father's farm. Later he acquired the homestead of eighty acres and has kept that land in thorough cultivation and has gathered additional land under his ownership until he now has 137 acres in Columbus Township.