Rivoli Township (part 1 of 5)

Rivoli Township

This township, which is designated in the government surveys as T. 14 K, R. 1 W. of the 4th P.M., was originally called North Pope, but its name was changed to Rivoli, at the suggestion of Hon. R. H. Spicer, one of the earliest pioneers.

The first settler in this township was Mr. James Bridger, who located liere in the spring of 1836, having previously located in Schuyler county, this state, where he arrived from New York December 9, 1833. Mr. Bridger was born in Sussex, England, August 1, 1802, emigrating to America in the spring of 1822, arriving in New York in April of that j'ear. He made the trip across the Atlantic in a sail vessel in the then unprecedented time of seventeen days. In 1 835

Mr. Bridger accompanied a gentleman from Scliiiyler county on a liorseback trip to Kock Island, where the gentleman had business, Mr. Bridger going for the sake of seeing the country. liock Island at that time comprised two log cabins, giving but very little earnest of its present population, wealth and business. Going to Rock Island they followed a trail that led them near the present county line between Mercer and Henry counties.

Returning they struck for Monmouth, following the old military trail as it was called, which was very near the present line of road from Rock Island to Monmouth. After passing a cabin near the present site of Milan the next habitation they saw was that of Hopkins Boone on Edwards river. They reached the ford on North Henderson after dark, and not knowing its character, they did not like to venture in. Seeing a light from the cabin of AYilliam Stewart, who lived then near the ford on the south side of the stream, thev hailed, and were answered by Mr. Stewart in person, who brought a torch and lighted them across the stream, bidding them welcome to the hospitality of his cabin in true pioneer style.

This trip resulted in Mr. Bridger removing to this county the following spring, and improving a claim on the W. i of the S. W. of Sec. 31 in this township, where he still resides, enjoying the fniits of bis early industry and economy. Mr. Bridger figures in the initial history of this township in more points than that of being the iirst settler. The death of his first wife, which occurred in June, 1836, was the first death in the township. She was buried in the Mann cemetery on section 6, in North Henderson township, and was the first burial in that cemetery and the first in that township, in fact. His marriage in January, 1837, to Mrs. Eliza Longley was the first marriage in the township, and his son (Ira G.), born October 14, 1837, was the first birth. In his cabin occurred the preaching of the first sermon in the township, by Rev. Samuel P. Burr, who was two years in the Mercer circuit of the Methodist Episcopal church, and an old pioneer, having settled in Edgar county, Illinois, in 1820. He was born in Langdon, New Hampshire, September 8, 1809, and died in Madison county, Nebraska, November 25, 1881. The winter of 1836-7 his cabin, which was 14x18 feet dimension, sheltered a family of fourteen persons, but still they had room to entertain any belated traveler who chanced to come that way.

In the summer of 1841 a band of Pottawattomie Indians on a hunting expedition were encamped near Mr. Bridger's for a month or more. While there a son of the chief was sick and died, and thev buried him on a hill on the south side of Pope creek, in the N. E. ^ of Sec. 6, in

Xortli Henderson township, erecting a tall white oak pole by the grave, to the top of which was attached a white flag. This pole remained standing for many years, but the grave was marked longer by the remains of a pen of heavy rails that enclosed it. which could be identified until quite recently, if it cannot be even yet.

Ira G., the oldest son. married Miss Susan E. Brown, a native of N'orth Henderson township, daughter of Benjamin F. Brown, an old pioneer. They were married July 24, 1864, and lived on the Bridger homestead until the death of Mrs. Susan, which occurred May 15, isTT, leaving no familv but her husband, who still lives on the old place and cares for his aged parents. A younger son (Albert C.) married Miss Sallie Brown, daughter of Harrison Brown, of Suez township, in 1SH2. and he enlisted in Co. E, 102d reg. 111. Vol. Inf., the same year, and died of disease at Gallatin, Tennesse, December 8, 1862, holding the rank of sergeant in his company.

Eichard Cox was among the first settlers in the eastern part of the township, locating in 1837. He was a native of (3hio, of limited education, but of good native sense and strictly upright character. He was among the first elected to the oflice of justice of the peace in the eastern part of the county. He was one of the early county commissioners, also, and was re-elected to botli oflices several times. He was a man of pronounced views, and outspoken in their advocacy, and was esteemed and respected by his neighbors. He was a member of the Methodist Episcopal church; a whig, while that party existed, and a republican after the organization of that party.

James Durston is another pioneer who has left a very prominent mark in the history of this township ; born in Ashcott, Sommersetshire, England, April 24, 1806. He came to America in 1832, stopping first in the State of Xew York, where he married Philadelphia Bridger, who was born in Sussex, England, April 18, 1817, and came thence to Xew York, in 1828. There their oldest daughter, Maria, was born, August 19, 1833. He came to Illinois in 1837, and settled first on section 36, in Greene township, where Charles F., the oldest son, was born, August 14, 1837, the first birth in that township. Besides the two above named children were James T., born April 17, 1839; Sidney, September 14, 1841; Martha, May 7, 1843; Joseph, March 1, 1845, died November 10, 1846; Samuel L., June 10, 1847; Harriet, July 8, 1849; William E., November 2, 1851; Elizabeth Matilda, May 22, 1854; Alfred Orion, December 25, 1856; Elmer, December 12, 1861, died January 31, 1864.

tion 15, where he lived until his death, which occurred September 8, 1879, his wife having died April 11, IStif). The family constitute a prominent feature of the township, having held various positions of honor and trust in the township and county. Charles F.. though living in Aledo now, owns a good farm in the township. James T. and Sidnev also own good farms on which thev reside. Samuel L. has the old homestead.

On Mr. Durston's place was built the first school-house in the township, in 1848, the frame of which now does duty in a granary for Hon. A. J. Streeter. Mr. Durston was one of the original members of the Wesleyan Methodist church, organized in Oxford in August 1847, and also of the class organized at Hopewell in the spring of 1848, as part of that church. This Hopewell class being the first church organization effected in that townslii}>, and until the school-house above referred to was built, their meetings where held at Mr. Durston's residence or that of Mi-. Chidester.

Xelson Chidester and his wife, Eebecca (Stewart), are among the early pioneers who still live to enjoy the advantages their labors have helped to build up out of the privations of pioneer life. Mr. Chidester was born in Trumbull county, Ohio, May 20, 1811 ; was married in that state October 29, 1834. and came to Illinois in 1889, spending the first winter at Little York, in AVarren county ; removing in the spring of 1840 to the northeast of section 16, in this township, where he still resides. Mr. and Mrs. Chidester were original members of the abovementioned church, to which thev still belong. The second school taught in the township was on Mr. Chidesters |)remises, occupying a back porch when the weather was pleasant, and moving into the kitchen when it rained. This school was tauijht in the summer of 1843 by Mary Stewart. The next year (1844) Mr. Chidester built a temporary building in his vard with lumber desia-ned for a barn, where Miss Pollock, of North Henderson, taught when the weather was pleasant ; when it rained she had to adjourn her school to the house, and that was a frequent occurrence that year.

Another pioneer who has helped largely to make the history of the townshi]), through the influence of his family, which still resides there, was Ste[)hen Smith, who was born in Massachusetts, February 22, 1801. Emigrated to Ohio about 1820. The spring of 1823 he married ]\Iiss Anna Belt, who was born in Licking county, Ohio, August 25, 1803. Mr. Smith was a blacksmith bv trade, having served a seven vears' apprenticeship at the trade in Massachusetts. He worked at his trade in Ohio, his special forte being the working of steel and nuiking axes, which business at that time was not exclusively in the hands of large manufacturers as at present. In 1874 Mrs. Smith was visiting about her old home in Ohio, and was shown axes still in use that Mr. Smith made before leaving there thirty-four years previously. In 1840 Mr. Smith came to Illinois, locating first in Richland Grove township, where he lived two years before moving into this township in 1842. He operated the first blacksmith shop in the township on his place in section 4. Mr. Smith died April 10, 1847, leaving his wife to rear the family. The honorable ])Osition the children occupy in the town is ample voucher for the faithful and able manner in which she executed the trust.

Maj. McMuUen was another early settler, making one of the first improvements in the northeastern part of the township. His house was blown from its foundation by a tornado that swept up through the Edwards valley June 5, 1844. For many years after, in breaking prairie or plowing in the vicinage of improvements that were in the line of that storm, peo})le would encounter stakes where the wind had driven fence-rails into the ground and broken them off.

In 1837 John Heriford (there is some question as to the proper orthography, as his deeds from Uncle Sam for various tracts of land entered at difterent times have it as above, and also Plervford and Herryford) made a claim and settled on section 29, but after a few years he sold out and left the country. Tradition has it that the first school in this township was taught in a cabin belonging to Mr. Pleriford, which stood nearly opposite where Zion Methodist Episcopal church now stands, but nothing very definite can be obtained in regard to it.

Another pioneer was Abram Watson, who came to this township in 1838, and was probably the only revolutionary soldier ever living in the county, if we except George Spies, who lived for a short time with Richard Cox, and afterward lived eight years with Mr. Bachus, of Oxford, and died there some twenty years ago at the age of 105 years. Mr. Watson was a native of Virginia, and enlisted in the revolutionary army at the age of fourteen. He was engaged at the siege of Yorktown, and was present at the surrender of Cornwallis. He was wounded during the siege by a bayonet thrust through the leg. It was the custom when soldiers were standing upon the breastworks, if any one saw a pufi' of smoke arise in front of them, indicating the discharge of a gun by the British, to call shot ! when they would instantly seek the shelter of the trenches. On one occasion of this kind, Mr. Watson, bo3'-like, without looking behind him, leaped backward from the top of the parapet, receiving the bayonet of a fellow-soldier in the calf of his leg. He lived ou his claim in section 29 until his death, which occurred in May, 1847, when over eighty years of ago, and was buried on his chiim. lie emigrated from Virginia to Kentucky at an early day, and thence to this state, at what time is not known, as he had been living in Warren county prior to coming to this county. lie married his second wife in AVarren county, and she survived him until soon after the breaking out of the late war of the I'ebellion. At her death the neighbors removed his remains to the Woodhams cemetery, where they are buried with hers.

Daniel Jones settled in this county in the spring of 1837, having came to the state a year previously and lived at Knoxville, Knox county. Though his educational advantages had been limited, his energy, his native good sense and sterling integrity soon caused him to be held in high estimation by his fellow ])ioneers. Ilis neighbors having elected him to some local otKce, he was averse to its acceptance because he was not a native of the United States, but the adaption of the constitution of 1848 soon after cured that diliiculty, and he served his neighbors in numerous official positions of importance afterward. He was among the first school trustees of the township, subsequent to the school organization in 1848. At the third election for town officers under township organization in 1856, he was elected supervisor for the township, and was re-elected in 1858.

Soon after settling on the E. ^ of the N. E. of Sec. 25, he made a claim on the X. E. of the S. E. of the same section, and had made rails and fenced and broke part of it, when another man came along and made a claim on the same tract. Mr. J., becoming satisfied that through some informality he could not hold the claim, had intimated as much to some of his neighbors. One night shortly after, entirely unknown to Mr. J., his neighbors turned out and hauled all the rails off the disputed claim and piled them up near Mr. J.'s house. He is now at the age of seventy-four years carrying on a farm of eighty aci'es near Galesburg, Illinois, to which place he removed in 1863, overseeing the business and taking care of his stock himself He was born in Canada, February 22, 1808, and on March 2, 1830, was married to Miss Atlanta Bartlett, whose brother, Gardner Bartlett, was sent by the Baptists of Vermont as a missionary to Illinois, in 1833. His labors and acquaintance in this part of the state influenced Mr. Jones to remove hither three years later. They raised a family of six children, two daughters and four sons, all of whom are respected and useful members of the communities in which they reside. Mrs. J. died August 27, 1868.

Illinois, who (lied three months after her marriage. May 29, 1860, he was again married to Miss Helen P.. daughter of William C. Bartlett, one of the earliest settlers of Geneseo, in Henrv coiintv. Miss Helen was born in Geneseo, October 30, 1840. In 1862 he enlisted in Co. D, 83d reg. HI. Vol. Inf. At the time of the enlistment of the colored troops, he applied for a transfer and was commissioned as first lieutenant, Co. F, 14th reg, U. S. CoFd Yol. Inf., with which command he served until it was mustered out in March, 1S66, nearly a year after the close of the war. Upon his return from the army in the spring of 1866, he settled upon his present farm of 154 acres, situated in section 7, in Oxford township, Henry county, where he continues to reside.

He has held nearly all the local othces in the gift of tlie people of his township, and now fills the important office of county surveyor of Henry county, and is also secretary of the Eivoli Township Farmer's Insurance Company of this county, of which he is a member. He is one of those men who have made the most of their limited opportunities, and he now stands high in the respect and esteem of his fellow citizens. Farming and stock raising have been his chief occupations. Kepublican in politics. Religiously he and his wife are baptists, but there beino- no church of that faith near them, tliev have connected themselves with the Congregational society of Xew Windsor. They have two children : Frederick D., born September 13, 1861, and Minnie G., born January 1. 1867.

The next son, Xorville, served in Col. Woods' 140th reg. 111. Yol. Inf., and now resides near Malvern, Iowa. Granville lives near Galesburg. Corwin, at Farragut, Iowa. Louisia (now Mrs. Andreson) at Malvern, Iowa ; and Mrs. Lockwood, also in Iowa.

March 3, 1870, Mr. Jones (Daniel) married Mrs. Ward, of Oxford, Henry county, who now shares his home with him in his declining years. Other names might be mentioned here among the pioneers, but their stay was short and their trails are well nigh obliterated by the growth of time.

The Rev. Hugh Breckenridge has been identified with this county since 1855, at which time he came to this state from Mercer county, Pennsylvania, where he was born May 5, 1826. The first four years of his residence here he worked at the carpenter trade, mostly in Ohio Grove township. His father, William, and his mother, Jane (Wallace) Breckenridge, were natives of Pennsylvania. His paternal grandfather and mother were natives of Scotland, whence they emigrated to this country. In the fall of 1859 Mr. B. returned to his native state, and Fcbruarv 3, 1860, was married to INIiss Mai-y AVatson, a native of Mercer county, Pennsylvania, and daugliter of John and Lncinda Watson, of that county. Bringing his wife to Illinois with him, he settled April 21, 1861, on his farm, the northwest of section 4, in Riyoli townshij), building his present residence that year. His farm now embraces 2<)U acres. They are members of the Hopewell AVesleyan Methodist cliurch, of which Mr. B. is now a regularly ordained minister, haying been ordained September 20, 1874, though he has been engaged in preaching for the last sixteen years. For two years he was pastor in charge of Hopewell circuit and was on the Ball Bluff circuit two years. The last three years he has been associate ])astor of the Hopewell circui . They have liad six children, of whom five survive at present : Juanita, born December 31, 1800; Clara L., September 23, 1862; WiUiamAV., July 13, 1865; Sarah L., January 4, 1868 (died October 17, 1868); Edward E., May 23, 1869; and Mary A., June 7, 1870.

The first official record of the schools of Rivoli township, 14 N., R. 1 W., is dated February 26, 1848, at which time James Bridger, Nelson Chidester, and Jonathan D. Wood, school trustees, met at the house of K. R-. Cox and appointed the latter treasurer, and divided the township into three districts as follows : ''The first district shall commence at the southeast corner of said township and run three miles west, and then due north until it strikes North Pope creek, then up said creek to the township line, then soutli along said line to the place of beginning. Tlie second district shall be composed of all the said township north of North Pope creek. The third district shall commence at the southwest corner of said township and run three miles east, then north till it strikes North Pope creek, then down said creek to the west line of said township, then south to the place of beginning."' They also "ordered R. R. Cox to purchase three books for the use of the treasurer, not to exceed in value $2.00."

At the second meeting of the trustees, held April 1, 1848, they distributed the funds on hand, amounting to $19.65, to the several districts, of wliich district number one was entitled to receive $6.01; number two, $6.37; an<l number three, $7.27. They also ordered the treasurer to pay E. H. McConoughty, teacher, $5.20; L. Chidester, teacher, $1.15; and H. Brown, teacher, $1.67. At the next meeting, July 1, 1848, they ordered $3.49 paid to Sarah C. Westfall, teacher. At the next meeting, October 7, 1848, after settling with the treasurer, they find the cash on hand to amount to $11.75, and order the same to be loaned as township funds. January 6, 1849, they find $3.99 in the treasurer's hands, which they order loaned. April 7, 1849, they apportioned $27.00 to the districts, as follows: district number one, $8.25; district number two, $8,75; and district number three, $10.00. The teachers ordered paid at that time were L. Cawkins, A. B. McChesney, and John Libby. It is also recorded at this meeting that "The trustees do hereby agree to act as directors of schools in said township." July 7, 1849, " This day the trustees were to meet," but there was "none present but Nelson Chidester,"" who " examined the treasurer's books and notes," and " found all to his satisfaction." He , also "presented a schedule from district number two for $7.50," and "ordered to pay Martha Cole, teacher," that sum. He then "adjourned to meet at the house of R. R. Cox on the lirst Saturday of October. "

October (i, 1849, the teachers ordered paid were Catharine B. Harvey and Martha Cole. At this time the trustees returned a list of the children in the township, amounting to 105, distributed as follows : district No. 1, 26 ; district No. 2, 42 ; and district No. 3, 37. January 12, 1850, trustees met and an election was held to elect a new board, which resulted in the election of Daniel Jones, James Durston, and John L. Stewart. At this meeting R. H. Spicer presented a petition from citizens of T. 14 N., R. 2 W., asking that all the territory in said town south of North Pope creek be attached to T. 14 N., R. 1 W., for school purposes, and be included in district No. 3 of said town. The prayer of the petitioners was granted. January 19, 1850, the new board of trustees met and appointed R. R. Cox, treasurer, fixing the penalty of his bond at $500. April 6, 1850, the trustees found $20.63 on hand, to which they ordered $15 added, being "money remaining in the hands of school committee." The sum of $35.63 was then distributed to the three districts in proportion to the number of children. At this meeting the schedules of J. S. ]\fahan, teacher in district No. 1, and Harmon Brown, teacher in district No. 3, were approved and ordered paid. October 5, 1850, trustees approve and order ])aid the schedules of Melissa Wilber, teacher in district No. 1, and Martha Cole, teacher in district No. 2. April 12, 1851, the Schedule of Nathan T. Smith, teacher in district No. 1, was presented. Settlement with the treasurer at this time showed a balance of twenty-five cents on hand, which was ordered loaned as township funds. October 11, 1851, trustees filed census of children under*twenty-one years of age in the town, numbering 128, of whom district No. 1 had 33, district No. 2 had 55, and district No. 3 had 40. At this time it ap})ears that Mary Underwood taught in district No. 1; Martha Cole, in No. 2; and Lydia Ann Wilber, in No. 3. At this time the bond of Alfred Cooper for one-half acre of land for a school-house site in district No. 3 was ap])roved. It calls for such land as shall be agreed upon, off the east side of the S. E. ^ of Sec. 30, on or near the road running east and west. October 4, 1851, appears the first record of the election of school directors, at which time James Bridger presented to the trustees a poll book of an election held at the school-house, in district Xo. 3, in which it is certified tliat James M. Garrett, liichard Cooper and William Terry were elected directors. January 10, 1852, an election was held at the school-house in district No. 2, to elect three trustees of schools, resulting in the election of George Ecklev, James Durston, and John W. Cox. Afterward it was found that John W. Cox would not serve as trustee because he would move out of the township in a short time, and they neglected returning the poll book of said election, so the treasurer gave notice of another election to be held at the same place on February 28. "The legal voters met on that day and concluded that it would not be lawful to elect three new trustees." So they "concluded that the former trustees should serve another term." At this time James Bridger was a])pointed treasurei*.

It is evident from the record that some parties having school funds were not prompt in the payment of interest, as the record of A})ril 1 7, 1852, says: "We, the trustees of schools, do hereby make it the treasurer's duty to go according to law if interest is not i)aid within one month after due, hereafter." The teachers whose schedules were ap])roved at this meeting, were Lewis Cawkins, Theodore Iloagland, E. T. Scott, and E. A. Shaw. At the October meeting, 1852, scliedules were audited for Mary Stewart, Jane Littlefield, and Lydia Ann Wilber, teachers.

The names of Thomas I. M cXair, Joseph T. Lafferty, Peter Eckley, and G. W. Freson, teachers, appear on the record of the April meeting, 1853. The census of children under twenty-one years of age, filed October 1, 1853, shows 176 in the town; 37 in district Xo. 1, 92 in district Xo. 2, and 47 in district Xo. 3. Jane E. Lockwood and Martha Cole appear on the roll of teachers.

January 7, 1854, an election held at the school-house in district Xo. 2, resulted in the choice of Christian ITarshbarger, K. II. Spicer, and Lafayette Chidester for trustees of schools.

April 1, 1854, teachers"' roll shows the names of X. P. Smith in district Xo. 1, C. E. Cox in district Xo. 2, and Peter Eckley in district Xo. 3.

June 3, 1854, a meeting was held at the house of A. E. Doty, in district Xo. 1, to organize the district, which was done by electing A. E. Doty, James E. Fenton, and R. R. Cox, school directors.

October, 1854, the trustees' census showed two hundred and fifty-one children in the town. In the part attached to Oxford district there were twenty children. District No. 1 had 50 ; No. 2 had 134 ; No. 3 had 47.

April 23, 1855, the first tax for general school jjurposes was levied by the trustees at the rate of forty cents on the one hundred dollars on all taxable property and real estate.

October, 1855, the number of children in the town two hundred and sixty, divided by district as follows: 1st, 29 ; 2d, 75 ; 3d, 39 ; 4th, 46 ; 5th, 56 ; and fifteen in the part attached to Oxford.

March, 1856, James Bridger was reappointed treasurer and directed to procure five well bound books for the use of the board of school tmstees. The record book of this set not being attainable there is no more official history of the schools until we come down to more modern times, or until 1866.

In 1856 the people in district No. 3 wanted a school, but had no school-house. Mr. Wilshire Calkins being very anxious to have a school, vacated the bedroom in the southwest corner of their house, nine feet square, and in this room schools were taught during the summer, of 1856, 1857-8 ; the attendance ranging as high as fifteen and sixteen pupils. The furniture consisted of slab benches ])laced against the four walls of the room, the teacher having standing room in the center where she could reach any schclar in the room without leaving her place. Here Miss Olive Atwater, sister of our whilom county superintendent, S. B. Atwater, taught in 1856. One Fridaj' afternoon there were to be some rhetorical exercises in the school, and Miss Atwater invited Mrs. Calkins to be present. Mrs. Calkins had provided an outside door to the room so that the school need not pass through the house. To this door Mrs. Calkins went at the appointed time, and thinking there was so little room inside concluded to remain on the outside and look in. After standing some time with one foot on the ground and one resting on the thresliold she removed the foot from tlie threshold to the ground to change position. Feeling something yield under the pressure of her foot she continued to bear her weight on the other foot, and being very much interested at the time in the exercises progressing within stood some seconds untlioughtfully rolling the object back and forth under lier foot. When at last she thought about what she was doing she concluded to see upon what she was standing. Looking down, judge of her surprise at seeing a very large rattlesnake stretched at full length beneath her feet, and apparently enjoying the novel petting of which it was tlie recipient. Mrs. Calkins did not continue the amusement, however, and without even awaiting an invitiition she very expeditiously took the lioor. No reporter being present, however, her speech cannot be given the readers of this history.

From the small beginning reported above, the schools of this township have grown until the number of school children in the township, as shown by the directors' census of 1881, is oOi, and $3,722.51 is the amount of money expended for school puqioses during the past year.

Tlie hrst preaching in this township was at the cabin of James Bridger, early in the forties, by Rev. Samuel T. Burr, of the Methodist Episcopal church, at that time on what was known as the Mercer circuit, which included all of this county and part of Bock Island. Knox and Warren counties. It took the minister a month to make the circuit. Elder Joseph Jones, of the Predestinarian Ba])tist church, also used to preach occasionally at the cabins of the early settlers, and his "Boys - ah! come in off the fence - ah, and hear Father Jones - ah, preach the gospel - ah, to the heathen - ah,*' is still fresh in the memory of many of the old settlers.

But the first church organi;cation made in the township was the Wesleyan Methodist class formed at Hopewell in the spring of 1848.. The church was organized first at Oxford in August, 1847, by Rev. C. H. Drake as tlie First Wesleyan Methodist Church of Oxford, but the membership was mostly resident of this township, and the class was formed at Hopewell as part of the Oxford church. When first organized this church formed part of the Farmington circuit, afterward divided, and the new circuit of Abingdon was formed, which included the Oxford church. Some years later Abingdon circuit was divided, and the new circuit of Oxford was formed. Since then both the Farm- 4:^

Prior to 1S61 this church was served by tlie following pastors : C. H. Drake, B. F. Haskins, K. F. Markham, and J. M. Snyder. March 25, 1865, Hopewell and Hamlet churches were united in one circuit called Hopewell circuit, which arrangement continues to the present time. This circuit also includes Bethel church in Greene township. The ministers in charge following Rev. Snvder have been L. K Stratton, J. A. McGillora, H. T. Bessie, Mikon Smith, A. R. Brooks, and U. D. Lathrop, with Rev. Hugh Breckenridge as associate pastor with Mr. Lathrop at present.

The original membership of this church, including those who united with the church prior to 1860, before which time jio record was kept of the dates of union with the church, were Govert S. Flehaitv, Margaret Fleharty, James Durston, Philadelphia Durston, Nelson and Rebecca Chidester, Anna Smith. Martha K. Bridger, William D. Flehartv. Nancv Goodman, Marv T. Underwood, Harriet AVoodhams, Martha Shaw, Maria Smith, Laird and Melinda Bean, Walter Goodrich, John Greenman, Catherine Braught, Erastus and Louisa Smith, Margaret J. Fleharty, and Margaret E. Roberts.

In 1870 this church erected a neat building at Hopewell about 32x48x18 feet dimensions at a cost of about §2,500, upon which they have since expended about $500 more. It was dedicated September, 1871.

In January. 1856, a church was organized at Oak Ridge by the United Brethren. The oro-anization was eifected bv Rev. George Weaver, the fh'st class-leader being James Meadows, and steward, Henry Birdwell. Besides the above-named officers the original membership included John and Jane Meadows, John and Mary Shroyer, Asa and Atlanta Streeter, Samuel Young. Julia Stevens, Adison Buckly, Cynthia Birdwell, and Rebecca Meadows. This church has no building, having used the Oak Ridge school-house for their meetings.

Zio?i Jlet/iodist Episcopal Church. - This class was organized in 1858, with Christian Harshbarger as class-leader, which office he held continuously until 1879, when he was succeeded by J. Arthur Garrett, who is the present leader. Thus has this class been led during its twenty-four years' existence by two leaders. There is no record obtainable of the original members of this class, but its present membershij) is twenty-two. In 1870 the class built a small, ])lain church in the S. E. \ of Sec. 29, which they use for their public exercises, though it has never been entirely tinished.

The Church of Christy of Oak liidgc, was organized ]V[ay 21. 1865, by Rev. E. Fisher. The original membership comprised James and Martha Marford, Rebecca Shoyer, Thomas and Matilda Hill, Louisa Braught, P^dna Watson, Mary J. Bunyan, Martha J. Thompson, James and Mary A. Meadows, ]\rary A. Miller, Levi and Margaret J. Spencer, and Mary Roosa. James ]\[arford and James Meadows were the first elders, and Thomas Hill the first deacon. Tn 1873 the society was removed to New Windsor and reorganized there by Rev. T. J. Burton. The society here purchased a church building of the Presbytery of United Presbyterian church. This building was the first church edifice erected in the township, having been built in 1867. This removal proved disastrous to the society; the members living south and west of Oak Ridge, being too far away from the church, the society lost membership and became too weak to pay for the church they bought, so it reverted to the T^^nited Presbyterian Presbytery, and the Church of Christ ceased to exist.

The First Congregational Chvrch^ of New Windsor, was organized October 11, 1870, by W. W. Allen, Sarah A. Allen, William D. Fleharty, Mary C. Fleharty, Alice Barnes, Mary Ann Mayo, Florence

C. Byrnes, Delia A. Hammond, and Charlotte Goold, as members, assisted by the Rev. L. F. Waldo, W. J. Beecher, R. B. Guild, B. F. Haskins, and A. R. Mitchell, pastors respectively of the First Congregational churches of Oneida, Galesburg, Galva, Victoria and Viola, with deacons M. C. Metcalf, and R. C. Sexton, as delegates. Rev. L. F. Waldo, moderator, and Rev. W. J. Beecher, scribe. W. W. Allen was elected clerk. Since the organization there have been eighty-four members admitted to the church, making a total membership of ninetythree during the little more than eleven vears since the first organization. October 22, 1870, W. W. Allen was elected deacon, and William

D. Fleharty, treasurer. Rev. Cyrus H. Eaton, the first ]»astor, began his labors April 30, 1871. The society built a small but very nice church during the year 1872, which was completed in the spring of 1873, at a cost of $2,381.64, and dedicated May 25, 1873. T. B. Mayo, A. J. Streeter, and William D. Flehartv were the buildiuir committee. The pastorate of Rev. C. H. Eaton ceased November 1, 1874. Rev, B. F. Haskins acted as supjily until the Rev. J. A. Waterworth began his labors, May 30, 1875, He continued to serve as pastor until June 1, 1878, and was succeeded by the present incumbent. Rev. R. L. McCord, who began his labors in January, 1879,

The United Prei<hijterian Churchy of New Windsor, was organized in Oxford, Henry county, August 10, 18()6, by Joseph i\I. and Nancy H. Christy, Thomas R., Catharine and Elizabeth McMiller, Margaret

A. Hogut', Elizabeth McLaughlin, Thomas li. and Sarah Brown, William II. and Margaret Kerr, Sarah Surpluss, Nancy Epperson, Thomas and Eliza M. Ramsey, .Fohn M. and Sarah A. Christy, and Stephen and Isabella Woodburn. The first elders were Joseph M. Christy and William H. Kerr. In 1867 this society built the first church edifice erected in the township of New Windsor. After a four years' struggle this society was dissolved by the Presbytery, some of its members think unjustly.

The JYew Windsor MethodiM Ej>hcopal CJiurch was organized in 1868, under the charge of Rev. Peter S. Garretson, this being his first appointment, he having traveled one year previously on the Oricjn circuit as supply. Rev. W. B. Carithers received his appointment to this circuit in 1869, during which year the class procured a lot and purchased a building 26x40 feet that had been built for a school-house and converted it into a house of worship. This building the class still uses as its church. Rev. Theodore Tloagland was placed in charge of this class in 1870 and was continued two years. The preachers in charge since Rev. T. Hoagland have been Revs. William Lieber, U. Z. (lilmer, A. Myers, J. E. Taylor, two years; Geo. Miller, John McCord, and J. D. Calhoun, two years. The class organized in 1868, with a membership of eight, John Coleman, Elizabeth Colemen, Lovina Coleman, Samuel Coleman, Rev. John Abbott, Alice Abbott, W. A. Buckley, and Mary Buckley.

The Swedish Evangelical Lutheran Churchy of New Windsor, was organized May 24, 1869, with Carl A. Johnson, Tetes Falk, and John M. Blad, as trustees, and Carl A. Johnson, C. Bjorkengren, Carl Adolf Falk, and Carl Falk, as deacons. G. A. Falk, secretary. August 23, 1869, the society decided to build a church edifice, which it did that fall, erecting a building 28 X 60 X 20 ft. dimensions, which rests on a stone foundation three and a half feet above the surface of the ground. This building cost $6,726.70. The society has a good commodious parsonage also, which cost about $1,500, and a cemetery where it buries its dead exclusively.

It has had three pastors since its organization : S. T. A. Lindahl, T. N. Sannquist and the present pastor, N. T. Winquist, who has been in charge since Api-il, 1879. The latter gentleman being a fine scholar and a verv intelliiJ:;ent man. Pie was born in Stockholm, Sweden, November 9, 1840, and received his education there, coming to America in 1867. He took a course at the Swedish Theological Seminary at Paxton, Illinois, since removed to Rock Island, Illinois.

The village of New Windsor was originally laid out in 1857 by W. T. Hammond, on the S. E. ^ of See. 13, and was expected to be a station on the (xreat Western Air Line railway, which was to be a trans-continental line spanning the country from l*hiladelphia to San Francisco. But the financial collapse of that year served a perpetual writ of mandamus upon the construction of many great lines of railway. The railroad was not built, and the seed that was to produce New Windsor failed to germinate. In 1868 the Chicago, Burlington c^ Quincy Railroad Company, by a series of manipulations known to railroad magnates, came into })Ossession of the franchises, right of way, etc., of the American ( \*nti-al railroad, which was the successor of the Great Western Air Line, and proceeded to build and equip the road from Galva to New Boston, having it ready to ()])erate in the spring of 1809 as a branch to its main line. With the buildinji; of the railroad, New Windsor sprang into being as if by magic, so rapid was its growth.

On August 2, 1869, the people decided by a vote of thirty-four to seven to incorporate their town. On August 14, A. J. Moore, J, TI. Epperson, P. Casler, E. L. Larkin and (t. W. Gregg were elected the tirst board of trustees, and Joseph M. Christy the tirst police justice.

At an election held August 1, 1870, the people of the town of New Windsor voted to issue $10,000 in the bonds of the town to the Rockford, Rock Island & St. Louis railroad, when said railroad was completed and a depot built in the incorporation. This measure was carried by a vote of forty-three to fourteen. As the conditions were never complied with the bonds were not issued. The road was built three miles east of New AV^indsor, and Alpha came into being at the crossing of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy branch.

This village enjoys the distinction of having the only telesc()j)e for astronomical i>urj)oses in this part of the country. Mr. Edgar L. Larkin having erected 'an observatory here mounting a six inch ecpiatorial, made by Alivin Clark & Sons.

tion granting twentv-five years life to the '-Rivoli Farmers' Mutual Insui-ance Company."' with its business office in Xew Windsor, and authorized to transact business in its line in the townships of Rivoli. Richland Grove. Xorth Henderson, Greene, and Suez, in this county, and Oxford township, in Henry comity.

The last annual report of the secretary, January, 1882, shows the total number of policies in full. 164. covering 8178.468. The present officers of the company are : S. B. Shumway, president ; Orson Jones, secretary, and T. D. Merryman, treasurer.

Crford Lodfje^ Xo. 367, A.F.A.M. was granted a dispensation October 18, 1860, by the grand master of the state, to open a new lodge U. D., in Oxford, in Henry county. Tlie lodge worked U. D., until October 16, 1861, it received its charter and number from Grand Master Ira A. W. Buck. Its first officers were: Paul Halm, W.M. ; Robert Detheridge, S.W. ; Wm. Fleharty, J.W. ; Samuel Wilson, Treasurer; M. S. Shephard, Secretary; Thomas Robertson, S.D. ; George Gale, J.D. ; Samuel Epperson, Tyler.

TLie charter members were P. W. Epperson, Thomas Robertson, Samuel Wilson, S. C. Moberly, J. D. Kennedy, J. M. Herbert, M. S. Shephard, Joshua Bruner, and X. McCombers. The lodge removed to atid held its first meeting in Xew Windsor July 12, 1870. It owned its liall in Oxford, which it sold to S. B. Shumway, and in September, 1870, bought its present hall and undivided half interest in the lot on which it stands of J. A. Maxwell. It is in good financial condition and numbers among its members some of the foremost and best men in the conmiunity, ranking as one of the best working lodges in the countrv. It has had on its roll the names of over V6() members, its present active membership being forty-six. During its twenty-one years' existence the following eight members have filled the office of Worshipful Master : Paul Halm, two years ; R. Detheridge, four years ; S. B. Shumway, six years ; M. CoUey, J. M. Timberlake, A. D. Underwood, two years ; A. P. Petrie, two years ; and R. S. Petrie, three years, The present officers of the lodge are : H. H. Roberts, W.M.- B. F. Brooks, S.W.; J. F. Cox, J.W.; W. W. Parsons, Treasurer; A. P. Shroyer, Secretary; A. Olson, S.D. ; A. G. McMullen, J.D,; R. Blair, Tyler.

A chapter of the Eastern Star was recently organized in connection with this lodge, having eighteen charter members, seven of whom are women. Its officers are: Mrs. Jennie Petrie, W.M. ; Mrs. Lizzie Mc- Mullen, AV.A.; A. P. Forgie, W.T.; Mrs. Martha Veeder, Treasurer; C. F. Peterson, Secretary.

jSfeic Windsor Lodge No. 518., I.O.O.F.. was organized June 3, 1873, by Dept. G. M. James Kelly. Charter members were : J. B. Armstrong, A. A. Willett, W. W. Jobes, AV. H. Gladman. and Samuel Adams. Its first ofticers were : J. B. Armstrong, N.G. ; AY. H. Gladman, Y.G. ; Samuel Adams, Secretary; A. A. Willett, Treasurer. Its roll shows a total membership of ninety-five since its organization, with a present active membersliip of twenty -six. It owns a hall over the drug store of A. J. Eosenbaum and the undivided half of the lot on which it stands. The hall was built in the fall of 1879. The lodge occupied its hall the first time jS^ovember 20, 1879. Its present officers are: Dr. F. D. Rathburn, X.G.; H. Higley, Y.G.; B. F. Brooks, Secretary ; D. Harkness, Treasurer ; W. H. Kerr, "Warden : John Olson, Cond. ; James Ulam, Chap.; J. E. Gould, D.D.G.M.

The Woodhams Cemetery on the E. \ of the X. W. of Sec. 21. covers two acres, which was set apart for that purpose by Mr. "William Woodhams during his life and afterward deeded to the township by the family. Mrs. AV. was the first one buried in this cemetery, which contains the remains of several of the township's pioneers.

Ttie Cooper Cemetery on the S. AV. \ of the S. E. \ of Sec. 30, the property of Richard Cooper, was started as a private cemetery by the Cooper family, and is occupied mostly by members of that family and connections.

The Ne\r Wnids(n' Cemetery, on the S. E. \ of Sec. 12, was donated by the late'AYilliam F. Petrie, one of the proprietors of the village, and is on a beautiful rolling site, and is being rapidly improved by trees and flowers, which must soon render it very attractive.

The Sivedlsh Evangelical Lutheran Cemetery., in the village of Xew AA'indsor, near the southeast corner of section 12, and separated from the church by a street, is the property of that church and designed exclusively for the use of members of that church.

In twenty-nine years nine persons have filled both of these offices. One of J. G. Sexton's terms is fractional, having been appointed to fill a vacancy caused by the resignation of A. P. Petrie.

Justice of the Peace. - Term of office is four years : C. Ilarsberger, two terms ; Peter Eckley ; R. R. Cox ; John B. Longley, three terms ; J. W. Peterson, two terms ; M. F, Wliipp ; J. Lyman Smith ; James Meadows ; John Christy ; C. F. Durston, two terms ; M. F. Postlewait ; Joseph M. Christy ; W. C. Cole ; W. W. Parsons, three terms ; J. G. Sexton, two terms.

In 1865 the town auditors levied a tax of $2.60 on the $100 valuation for a bounty tax. The total amount expended for fifteen volunteers to fill the quota of this township was $7,940.75, of which $3,620 was raised by subscription.

In 1854 the first assessment under township organization showed that there were in the township 163 horses, 405 cattle, 5 mules, 226 sheep, 649 hogs, 45 wagons and carriages, 39 clocks and watches ; moneys and credits $779. The total personal property assessed was $19,821; the total real estate assessed was $35,238.29; total assessment, $55,059.29.

owned by Edgar L. Larkin, is an object of much interest. It was erected for astronomical purjioses, and is provided witli a telescope made especially for celestial observation. Tlie diameter of the objective is six inches in the clear, and its focal length is eight feet ten inches. The observatory is in free telegrai)hic communication with the? Smithsonian Institute at Washington, D.C., and with the Howard College observatory at Cambridge, Massachusetts. Tlie telescope is called an equatorial ; that is, it rests on two strong, cast-iron axes, that have motions so adjusted that when the telescope is set on a star it will remain so, since it is revolving on axes that move as the earth does. The telescope and all its belongings are first-class, and it would be a pleasure to note all of its peculiarities and ai)plianc('s, but space forbids more than the above mention.

Biographical

Reuben H. Spicek, Sr., was born in the town of Kent, county of Litchlield, state of Connecticut, June 24, 1810. In 1819 his father removed to western New York, then a new country. The schools there at that day were of the frontier type, but such as they wei'e Mr. Spicer had the privilege of attending from two to three months during the year. Such was the advantage he took of the limited opportunities that at the age of fourteen he was spoken of for a teacher. DaboU's arithmetic, Webster's sjielling book, with writing, comprised the entire curiiculum of the common school then, but through the ])artiality of one or two teachers and a Baptist minister, Mr. Spicer was enabled to go a little beyond the standard course and obtain an introduction to mathematics, geography and grammar. At the age of eighteen he left the home farm at his father's suggestion, and spent some time in southern New York and northern Pennsylvania, which being an older settled portion of the country, brought him in contact with a higher grade of society, and better opportunities to gratify his ardent desire for knowledge and self-ini])rovement. One of the first ste])S taken by him was to form a temperance society of one, for at that time the use of liquor was almost universal, standing upon the sideboaixl of every wellto-do gentleman, and in tlie closets of poorer people; greeting the guest upon arrival and following liis departure as a stirruj) cup. Seeing the degradation and misery which too frequently resulted, especially among young men, from the use of intoxicating liquors, he resolved to deny himself the use, and faithfully did he adhere to that resolution, and now as he reviews his past life he does not hesitate to award to that resolve the credit for his being a better man and more \iseful citizen than he could have been with the associations of those who had a greater fondness for liquor and smoke tlian for mental culture. After traveling considerably through the middle, some of the southern and eastern states, in the fall of 1831 he went to Michigan, the only new country then thought to be habitable, with the expectation of making it his home. lie spent the winter in Ann Arbor, then a flourishing town with good society. Early next spring with a pony he started out and during the season traversed the territory in various directions, Indian trails being the substitute for roads. Indians were numerous and he often found them useful in mapping the geography of the country for him ; with their ramrods tracing in the sand the course of trails, rivers, ravines and sloughs, and marking the crossings, all with an unerring accuracy that would have done honor to a learned professor. While stopping, for the night at Bronson, now Kalamazoo, in the early summer, the people were aroused to great excitement by the arrival of a messenger announcing the breaking out of the Black Hawk war, and claiming to have been sent for aid to arrest the advance of the hostiles, which was represented to be rapid and not far distant. The people were panic stricken; old men and women traversed the streets wringing their hands, not knowing which way to turn for safety. Mr. Spicer's destination, Prairie Ronde. now Schoolcraft, led him directly toward the advancing foe, and he resumed his journey next morning against the earnest protests of the people of the village. He made the journey in safety, transacted his business, and, returning on the second day met the volunteers en route for the seat of war. Among them was every man from the Gull Prairie settlement, where lie had been stopping, even Deacon Mills, the old man of the settlement, with whom Mr. Spicer had been boarding. By taking his place in the ranks Mr. Spicer induced the deacon to return to his home, and thus he was led into making a campaign in the Black Hawk war. With the desire for a higher education as strong as ever, he returned east in the fall of 1832, and at the age of twenty-two began that course of education that most young men now finish before that age. For two years he applied himself with untiring assiduity to his studies. In the spring of 1835 he again started west, this time with Texas as his objective point, that state being engaged at that time in the struggle to free itself from Mexican rule. Arrived at Cincinnati he found the funds too low to proceed farther, so crossed over to Kentucky and procured a situation in a school and began to teach. He applied himself with such diligence in his new profession that he soon found himself at the head of one of the most flourishing local schools of the state. Two years of such intense application told upon his health, and he was forced to give up his school. In the spring of 1837 he married Miss

Sopliiii AVliiteliead, of Covingcton, Ivy., who was a native of London, England, and they started at once for Illinois. Arrived at Peoria he found speculation a numia, corner lots selling far up in the thousands. xVfter inspecting the country about Peoria, he ])roceeded up the river to Peru, thence to Aux Plaines and Chicago. AVhile sto])])ing with a brother at Aux Plaines he incidentally heard of a wondeiiiilly fertile country bordering on the Mississipj)i south of Rock river. A place where a man of small means had a chance to become the peer of his neighbor with no greater means. Chancing to meet a former acquaintance from the east, he started for the new Eldorado on foot, there being few inducements then for even stage lines to traverse the trackless prairies. After viewing the country he purchased a claim that is now embraced within the limits of his farm. He returned to his claim with his wife in July. The improvements.on the claim consisted of two acres broken and a log cabin erected, 14x16 feet dimension, with a place cut for a door and a tire-place, and a }jlace 6XS feet in one corner covered by a puncheon floor. Mr. Spicer, writing of this cabin, says: ''This domicile had its conveniences. First, it was well ventilated, then the open door and lire-place made ample provision for the easy ingress and egress of itinerant dogs and prowling wolves, the latter being much the more numerous." S])eaking of these times Mr. Spicer remarked that ''Political organizations at this time had not disturbed the unity of the settlements. In 1838 the first breeze, faint, but yet perceptible, swept over tliese prairies. In 1840 the invader arrived and the two parties, democrat and whig, for the first time measured their strength.'" Mr. S[)icer was a democrat, and though he foresaw that the probabilities were against that party acquiring a permanent ascendency, he j)referred to be right in his own estimation rather than yield his opinion to expediency. In 1841 he was sent as delegate to the state convention ; the first delegate of either party from the countv to a state convention. He found some difficultv in nuddng the geographical location of the county known. In answer to questions as to its whereabouts, he replied that "Time would nuike it known as one of the first counties of the state."* This was received with very incredulous smiles. He there formed the acquaintance of many of the prominent men of the state, which became a source of much pleasure to him in after years. In 1843 he was elected to the legislature from the district comyjosed of the counties of Mercer and Knox. In 1848 he was put in nomination for the state senate for the district composed of Mercer, Rock Island, Henry, Knt)x, Warren and Henderson counties. The canvass of that year was the most spirited in this section up to that time ; Gov. Joseph B. Wells and Col. E. D. Baker, candidate for congress, participated. By the defection of a small portion of his party in Knox county he was defeated. This vh-tually closed his political career, as impediments beyond his control prevented his taking any further part in that direction. Yet in 1851, without his consent or knowledge even, he was again put in nomination for the same ofhee, to till a vacancy. His business arrangements were such then that he could not accept it and took no part in the canvass, lie has always been an earnest advocate of the public schools, laboring olhcially and individually for their improvement, having served over twenty years as a school othcer in his district and township. At the breaking out of the rebellion he was among the lirst to advocate its suppression, believing that the union must and should be preserved. Loss of hearing has for many years been a serious obstacle to the transaction of business, and still greater to the enjoyment, of social intercourse, for which he is so eminently qualified, and from which he would derive such great pleasure. Katnrally of a studious disposition, this deprivation has caused him to turn more of his attention to books, and especially in that greatest of all books, the book of nature, where he finds his greatest solace. His father was a man of more than ordinary energy, and had executive faculties of a high order. Starting with a very imperfect education, he made his way through life a success. Frequently having large business operations under his supervision, he won the confidence of^an extended circle of friends. He held manv of the local offices of his county, and when over sixty years of age removed from Xew York to the vicinity of Lawrence, Kansas, for the benefit of his younger children. The climate and change seemed to afi'ect his health, but he lived to reach nearly four score years. His grandfather gave his services to his country during the entire period of the revolutionary war. His grandmother resided at Xew London, Connecticut, at the time Arnold invaded that place, but was one of those who escaped to the hills in the rear of the place. Mr. Spicer's first claim and residence was on the S. E. of the S. E. of section 25, in Greene township; his present residence was not built until IS-tl, and is on the X. AY. of the S. W. of section 30, in Rivoli township. Of the ten children, nine are living: Sarah A. (wife of C. Y. Shove, Yiola, Illinois); S. Augusta (wife of AYm.C. Garrett, farmer, Rivoli township); E. Levis (member of Co. H, 84th 111. Yol. Inf., was mortally wounded at the battle of Stone river, Tennessee, and was buried in the cemetery at Nashville) ; Talbut T. (farmer, married daughter of Elihu Rathbun, lives near Chariton, Iowa); Charles F. ^senior partner of firm of Spicer it Gilmore, dealers in agricultural impk^ments, Aledo, Illinois); Lucy A.; Reuben IL, Jr. (nuirried to Laura C., youngest daughter of L. W. Conger, now of Putnam

Uivoli Townsiiii'

Hon. Alexander P. Petrie was born at "Rosendale on the Hudson, in rister county, New York, Aujj^ust 8], 1887. He came to Illinois with his father's family in 1844, via the lakes to Chicago, and thence by wagon to Kichland Grove township, arriving at the house of Samuel Clark, one of the pioneers of that township, Jime 6, 1844, the next day after the great tornado that had blown from their foundations the INfcMullen and AVilcox houses, the only two houses then on the prairie south of Edwards creek. His youth was spent on the farm with only the very limited advantages for education atforded by the common schools of that day. He atterward took a course in a commercial school at Chicago.- On August 9, ISO'-}, he enlisted in Co. C, 112th reg. 111. Vol. Inf, and at the com]>any organization was elected orderly sergeant, was mustered into the United States service as second lieutenant, at J?*eoria, September 22, 1862, went with his regiment to Covington, and thence to Lexington, Kentucky, where he wintered; \vent with a detachment from his regiment in the summer of 1864, on Saunder's raid into east Tennessee, destroying railroads and confederate supplies. Some of his command were captured near Cumberland Gap, but he escaped. Reaching Lancaster, Kentucky, they celebrated July 4, 1863, there, and afterward rejoined his regiment at Danville, Kentucky; was at the siege of Knoxville, Tennessee,, and at Kelly's Ford, east Tennessee. January 27, 1864, he was wounded by a shot in both legs during a cavalry engagement. For his wound he received a furlough for two months and visited his home. He rejoined his command, then a part of Gen. Sherman's grand army, rendezvoused near Chattanooga, Tennessee, in the spring of 1864, taking part in that wonderful hundred days' campaign wdiicli resulted in the fall of Atlanta, his command being in the Twenty-third Army Corps under Gen. Schofield. He commanded his company after the battle of liesacca, in the spring of 1864, until after the battle of Franklin. Tennessee, November 30, 1864, in which his brother, Edward E., a member of his company, was killed and borne from the tield by Lieut. Peti'ie in person. He was also with his command in the right wing of the army under Gen. George H. Thomas, when Gen. Plood received his final defeat at Nashville. His command having been sent to Fort Fisher after the battle of Nashville, to take part with Gen. Sherman in the (\nrolina campaign, he joined it at Kingston, North Carolina, in March, 1865. He was mustered out at Greensboro, North Carolina, June 20, 1865, as first lieutenant, reaching home on July 9, following. August 28, 1862, Mr. Petrie united in marriage with Miss Alice, daughter of Dr.

T. S. Fetrie. probably a distant relative, as botli parties trace their linease back four or iive tjenerations to one James Petrie, trardener and florist. Forest. Elginslm'e. Scotland. Miss Alice was born in Liverpool, England. April 1. 1S39, and came to America with her parents in 1840, via Xew Orleans and the river, to Peoria, Illinois, settling first at Trivoli, in Peoria county, thence moving to Brimtield. and thence to Rivoli, Mercer county. Mr. and Mrs. F. have four children, two sons and two daughters. The oldest, Maggie, being now in attendance at St. Mary's school, I\jioxville, Illinois. In the spring of 1867 Mr. Fetrie was elected supervisor for Rivoli township, to which office his neiichbors continued to call him until he had served them ten vears. He has been an active member of the republican party ever since his majority, but not in the roll of an office seeker, the offices having sought him. In 1880 his party called on him to represent the twentysecond senatorial district in the house of representatives of the Illinois legislature, which position he fills with as much honor to himself and his constituents as any of the new members of that body. Mr. T. is a member of the Congregational church, of Xew Windsor, and of Oxford Lodge, Xo. 367, A.F.A.M., of Xew Windsor, of which lodge he was W.M. for two years. His farm, consisting of 560 acres, lies near the village of Xew Windsor ; his residence, where he has lived since February, 1866, is on the southwest quarter section 12. The farm is in a high state of cultivation and has 1,600 rods of drain tile laid at present. His business has been farming and stock raising, and for a few years, he was engaged quite extensively in raising hedge plants. His father, William F. Fetrie, was bom at Forest, Elginshire, Scotland, April 19, 1803, and came to America in 1828, and was overseer se\'eral years for Commodore Stockton, of the United States navy, at his place, near Princeton, Xew Jersey. Here he married Miss Ann Regan, who was born in L'eland in 1809, and was at the time a nurse in the family of Commodore Stockton. Went from Princeton, Xew Jersey, to Posendale, Xew Yoi'k, and engaged in mercantile pursuits; then on to a farm in Oneida county, Xew York; thence to Illinois in isi-l, settling on the southwest quarter section twenty-five, in Richland Grove township, Mercer county. In 1849 he crossed the plains of California, where he remained two years, most of the time plying his vocation as gardener, near San Francisco. While there he took the contract to grade Stockton street in the above named city. Having sold his farm in Richland Grove township, he bought land on sections 12 and 13, in Rivoli township, and moved on to the northeast quarter section thirteen, in 1857. He was one of the original proprietors of the ^-illage of Xew Windsor, ])art of the town plat being on the northeast of section 13. Mr. P.

had nine children, one daughter and eight sons, four dving in infancy and one. Edward R.. killed in battle as mentioned before. The four survivors reside in and near New Windsor, viz : Mary C, (wife of W. D. Flehartyi. Alexander P.. Richard S.. and Cornelius L. Mr. P. was an energetic, thorough going man in all that he undertook, being awarded the premium three successive years by the Merc-er County Affricultural Societv. for the best cultivated farm in the countv. He died August 19. lJ>66. his worthy wife surviving him until September 10. l'^74. Their remains are deposited with those of their heroic son, Edward R.. in the ^Hllage cemetery north of Xew Windsor, the site for which was donated by Mr. Petrie.

Hon. Ai;S4»x J. Streetee, one of Mercer c-ounty's most prominent citizens, was born in Rensselaer countv. Xew York, Januarv 18, 1823. His father. Roswell Streeter. was bom in Massachusetts in 1799, and his mother. Eleanor Kenyon. was bom in Westerly. Rhode Island. August 20. 1798. There were six sons and two daughters the offspring of this union, of whom the subject of tliis sketch is the oldest, and the only one living in this c-ounty now. His sister. Mrs. Shumwav. livinor in Oxford. Henrv countv. is the onlv member of the family living near him. Mr. Streeter came to Illinois in 1836. when only thirteen years old. with his tather. who settled at that earlv dav in what is now Lee Centre. Lee coimtv. Illinois. J3is father died April 11. 1850. in Iowa, en route for Calitbmia. His mother survived until June 8, 1871, when she died, in the seventythird year of her age, at her son's residence near Xew Windsor. His youth was spent on the fai*m and in trapping, hunting and fishing, which were his favorite employments at that time and at which he was very successtiil. The fiirs and pelts of the wolf mink, otter, muski-at, etc.. being about the only medium of exchange obtainable at that time. He has treasured up many interesting incidents connected with his early pioneer life, when the settlers who had endured the hardships to which they were subjected at that early day were obliged to form societies for mutual protection, to prevent by the force of might the greedy speculator from entering their homes, which the settlers could not iHii-chase, there beins: no monev in the c-ountr\- with which to buy. He also relates how they used to bum charc-oal and haul it fourteen miles to Grand Du Tour, on Rock river, where one John Deere (now of Moline plow i'iune) had a blacksmith shop with two forges in it. He would sometimes get titty cents and sometimes a -dollar in cash on his load, the balance would be taken in blacksmithinff as it was needed. It was when making one of these trips that he tii-st saw a steel plow that would sc<^ur, Mr. Deere having just begim the manufacture of a diamond-sliaped steel plow, the only plow then in use having a wooden mold-board, with a piece of iron fastened on the lower edge for a share. Returning liome he reported to his father what he had seen, and they concluded they must have one of the new plows. So, taking a load of charcoal, he went to the shop and traded for a plow. Repairing to a neighboring sand-bank he hitched his oxen to the plow and drove, while Mr. Deere held the plow, to scour it, not having any implement to grind with at that time. While living in Lee county he attended two terms of school in an old log school-house. At the age of twenty-three, with an ardent desire to improve his education and $12 of hard-earned savings in his pocket, he went to Galesburg to attend Knox college. By the industrious use of the frower and knife riving and shaving hard-wood shingles, he maintained himself two and one-half years at school. In 1849 he went oyerland to California and spent two years in the mines, returning in 1851. In 1853 he went across the plains with a drove of cattle, and repeated the trip again in 1854. On Ins return from this last trip he bought 240 acres of land in section 11, Rivoli township, to which he has continued to add until his farm at present spreads over 3,100 acres, about onehalf of which is in pasture at present and on which he raises large numbers of hogs and cattle, having one of the finest herds of thoroughbre4 short horns in the county. Farming and stock raising has been his business, and although his private affairs have grown to such large dimensions of late years, he has always kept himself posted on the course of current politics, taking deep interest in everytliing affecting agriculture and education. Though having business interests that would seem to require all his time, he has always held himself in readiness to serve his neighbors in any position they have called upon him to fill. He has represented his town several years on the board of supervisors. In 1872 he was elected by the cumulative system the minority representative to the state legislature from the twenty-second senatorial district, composed of Knox and Mercer counties, serving two years as a member of the twenty-eighth general assembly to the satisfaction of his constituents and honor to himself. Serving on the committee on agriculture and education, he helped to shape all the legislation upon those two subjects, in which he takes so great interest. A democrat until about 1874, he deemed that neither of the two leading parties was serving tlie people's interests as it should, and since that time he has identified himself with the national greenback labor union party. Standing for that party as candidate for congress from the tenth congressional district in 1878, he received over 3,600 votes. Again in 1880, the candidate-.of the same party for governor of the state, lie received 28,808 votes. lie is alwavs found on the side of the masses, battling against the encroachments of the great moneyed corporations, and believes most firmly in enforcing our railroad and warehouse laws. He is a member of the Congregational chui-cli of New Windsor, and is also a Royal Arch Mason. On his jjhice is one of the curiosities of this section of country : a crows' roost. Near his house is a patch of brusli land densely covered with a young growth of black oaks. In this the crows assemble every evening to roost, departing early in the morning on their daily foraging expeditions. When they are all congregated in the evening they cover about five acres, sitting so closely together that they completely cover the trees, making each a veritable quermis niger. Mr. Streeter says they were there when he came, and he does not see that they have either increased or diminished in number during the now nearly thirty years of his acquaintance with them. He does not allow them to be disturbed, and they have never done any damage on his place. He has never heard of but one other roost in the state, and that is in the southern part. He thinks his crows range over a circle whose radius is more than one hundred miles. During the brooding season they do not return to the roost, but as soon as the young can fly they take them there. His children, in the order of their ages, are: George A., Frank W., Mary, Nellie May, Fannie Rose, Minnie Grace, and Charles Dallas. The four last-named are children of his second wife (Susan JVIenold), to whom he was married in August, 1861. George A. married a daught^ of Joshua Goddard, of Yiola. Frank W. married a daughter of Samuel Park, near Viola, and now lives on the place, having charge of the farm and stock. Mary is the wife of Thomas Burling, and lives in Nebraska. Minnie Grace died January 23, 1882, from the eifects of diphtheria, deeply mourned by a wide circle of friends and acquaintances. She was a girl of more than ordinary promise, for whom a very brilliant future seemed just opening. February 22, 1882, Nellie May was married to Mr. Frank Crane, of Osco, Henry county, Illinois. Fannie Rose and Charles Dallas are all that remain at home. By energy and perseverance he has wrested from the soil his present ample means, and has earned a justly merited reputation for honor and probity that is worth more than money or lands. Mr. Streeter resides on his original purchase in section 11, two and one-half miles northwest of the vilhiij-e of New Windsor.

he married Sylvina B. Coleman, daughter of John Coleman, of this township, who was born in Pennsylvania in 1850. He then settled on his present ])lace in the southeast of section 12, and has been engaged in farming. His farm comprises 215 acres in excellent cultivation. He and his wife are active members of the Methodist Episcopal church of New Windsor, near which village they live.

John G. Sexton, the subject of this sketch, tliough not one of the pioneers, has been prominently identified with the township during the comparatively short period of his residence here, which dates from the spring of 1S68, when he came here from Ohio and settled on the W. ^ of S. E. of Sec. 7, this township, where he now resides in a good, commodious frame house, built in 1879, his farm comprising eighty acres. He has held numerous local offices in the township. Eive years ago he was elected justice of the peace, and although he has been called upon to adjudicate several suits, brought before him on change of venue, he has not»yet issued an original summons, having succeeded thus far in getting the [)arties to compromise or agree to an arbitration in all cases that have been brought to him to commence suit. In November, 1880, he was appointed supervisor vice A. P. Petrie, resigned. In 1881 he was elected to the same office, and reelected the spring of 1882. He was born in Mahoning county, Ohio, December 2, 1833. His father, Stephen Sexton, was born in AVashington county, Tennessee, in 1801. His grandfather, Stephen Sexton, was an only son and was born in Xew Jersey in 1762, and went to Ohio in 1800 and bought a farm in Mahoning county, to which he removed his family in 1802. From the purchase of this farm in 1800 the deed to his son Stephen M^as the only transfer of the property until sold by the heirs in 1879. He dit'd in 1856 when ninety-four years old. His grandfather's family consisted of four sons and three daughters, of whom one son only survives. His father married Miss Sarah Gibson, who was a native of Ohio. They had nine children, eight sons and one daughter, all of whom survive, one residing in Connecticut, one in Pennsylvania, one in Iowa, and the other five in Ohio. Mr. S. married Miss Eliza

C. Hogg, in Ohio, April 29, 1856, born in that state March 25, 1837, her father, James Hogg, being a well known resident of Viola, Illinois, having been collector of his town for several years. They have had three children: James G., born iai Pennsylvania December 20, 1857 (married Miss Nettie Jobes April 13, 1881), lives in Preemption township ; Lizzie E., born March 10, 1860, died October 21, 1863; and

James and Pliiladelpliia (Bridges) Durst on, pioneers in this townsliij), and was born here September 14, 1841. His oldest brother, Charles F,, was born Augnst 14, 1837, on section 86, in Greene, being the first birth in that township. In 18<)2 he enlisted in Co. D, 83d reg. 111. Vol. Inf., and served with his command until it was mustered out after the close of the war. September IS, 1806, he married ]\Iiss Mary L. Edgerton, daughter of S. C. Edgerton, born in Galesburg, Illinois, May 2, 1843. In the spring of 1867 he settled on his farm in the northwest of section 10, which coniprises 160 acres. Having no children, in March, 1880, they adopted two boys, Harry and Bert, twin sons of Henry J. Piper, who were born March 11, 1876. Mr. and Mrs. I), are members of the Hopewell AVesleyan Methodist church. hi politics ^Mr. Durston is republican,

Samuel L. Dukst<»n, son of James Durston, was boi-n in this township June 10, 1847, was brought up on his father's farm M'itli such common school advantages as the countrv afforded, to which he added a course in a commercial school in Monmouth. A[U'il 23, 1874, he married Miss Emma Morton, who was born in Peoria county, Illinois, August 22, 1855. Her parents were natives of the Isle of Man. Her mother and one sister reside in Galva, Illinois, another sister in Aledo, Illinois, and a brother resides in Joliet, this state. They have two children, Lora, born March 19, 1875 ; and Jeanie, born A])ril 19, 1880. They are members of the Wesleyan Methodist church of Hopewell, his father being one of the original members of the church when it was organized at Oxford in ^847. Ilis farm consists of 100 acres and embraces the old homestead that his father improved forty years ago. In politics he is rei)ublican.

William C. Gakrett was born in Kn^x county, Illinois, Oct(*ber 18, 1845, and came with his parents to this townshi[) in 185(>. His father, James M., was born in Indiana in 1815, and came to Illinois with his father, George Garrett, as early as 1835, and settled near Abingt<^n, in Knox county; his older brothers, AVilliain F. and John S., having come to the state still earlier, being here to jiarticipate in the l)lack Hawk war in 1832. His mother (Mary M. CuUison) was born in Knox county, Ohio, August 4, 1824, and came to Knox county, Illinois, with her parents in the spring of 1842, settling first on Haw creek, near the present town of Gilson ; moving to the vicinity of Victoria, in the same county, in 1845. She was married to James M. Garrett, in Knox county, in December, 1844. The subject of this sketch was married November 25, 1869, to i\Iiss S. Augusta Spicer, daughter of Hon. 11. II. Spicer, of this township. She was born in Greene town- sbi}) April 11, 18-10. Until March, 1872, they lived in the old homestead with Mrs. M. M. Garrett, at which tiine they removed to a farm which they owned in section 16, this township. By partition and exchange in 1876 they came into possession of the old homestead aicain, where thev now reside. His farm consists of 220 acres. Thev have three childi-en : Georgia (born February 24, 1873), Mortimer S. (July 6, 1877), and E. Roy (January 8, 1880). They are members of Zion Methodist Episcopal church. William C. is the oldest of the family. His next brother, George, died when a youth ; the next, J. Arthur, married Miss Lizzie Harbour, and lives on E. |- S. E. Sec. 17, in this towaiship. His only sister, M, Ella, who is a graduate of Hedding College, lives with her mother in Abingtou.

Clinton Shaw. Among the pioneers to this county were Levi and Martha (Metzlar) Shaw, wdio settled in what w^as then called Berlin (now Swedona), May 31, 1836. The former was a native of Trenton, !New Jersey, and the latter of Westmoreland county, Pennsylvania. They were married in Coshocton county, Ohio, February 22, 1831, and <?ame thence to Illinois. Mr. Shaw w\is married twice. Almond, the only child by his first wife, is now a resident of Kansas, but was form- -erly a merchant at Swedona, in this county. He enlisted in Co. C, 102d reg. 111. A^oL Inf., in 1862, and was made first lieutenant of his -company, and afterward, u]ion the resignation of Capt. Sliedd, he became captain of the company. By his second marriage Mr. Shawhad eleven children, six sons and five dauo:hters, all of whom are living except the youngest daughter. Clinton was reared on the farm, with the common school advantages of that early day, taking his start in life September 8, 1843, at Berlin. When in his sixteenth year he was ci-ipjjled by the accidental discharge of a shot-gun, the charge passing through his right arm, nearl}^ severing it. Five years later he had the misfortune to lose the use of his left eve. He left the farm at the as:e of eighteen and clerked in a store. In 1865 he took a course in a commercial school in Chicago, after which he clerked three years for his brother Almond at Swedona, and then, with George W. Gregg as partner, became jiroprietor of the store. In 1870, having sold out his business, he began clerking for Stephens S: Gibson, of New Windsor, becoming a ])artner in 1872 under the style of Gibson ct" Shaw, afterward becoming Gibson, Shaw & Ilalberg, from which latter firm he has just withdrawn, the spring of 1882. July 4, 1866, he married at Swedona Miss Ellen L. Bell, sister of J. D. Bell, since a prominent merchant of Woodhull. She was born near New Albany, Indiana, October 17. 1846, and came to Illinois in 1865. Thev have had four

John A. Maxwp:i,i, was born in Irehmd May 22, 1835. Came to America in the fall of 1852. Lived one year in St. Louis and one year in Rock Island. "Was travelino; most of the time until his marriage with Mary J. Baker, boi-n February 11, 1845, daughter of William Baker, of Swedona, in this county, who was a native of Pennsylvania, which event occurred January 1, 1807. He then established himself in mercantile business in Swedona. Two years later, wlien the railroad was completed to New Windsor, he removed to the latter jilace and continued the business until November, 1875, when he sold his store to C. Cole, who conducts it at the present time. jVfr. Maxwell was raised on a farm until eighteen years of age, and ow^ns a farm of 160 acres, the S. E. i of Sec. 8, in Rivoli township. They have three children : James B. (born July 1, 1870), Flora J. (born December 1, 1873), and Grace G. (born October 16, 1876). Politically republican.

Andrew J. Rosexbim was born in Wythe county, Virginia, September 4, 1828. His lather, Anthony Rosenbum, was also a native of Virginia, and emigrated to Kentucky about the year 1829, settling in Barren county. He moved thence to Monmouth, Illinois, in 1835, opening the Urst blacksmith shop in the place where he continued to work at his trade for fifteen years. He died ta Monmouth in 1S51. His mother, whose maiden name was Hoffman, had two brothers in Monmouth, who were wagon makers, and Mr. Rosenbum did their iron work. His mother died in Henry county in 1874. Mr. Rosenbum attended school ten years in the first school-house built in Monmouth, which stood on the present site of the Methodist church. The old school-house was lighted by two windows, one in the east and one in west ; the bottoms of the windows being nearly as high as the top of the door. He remembers going to school there when he had to part the tall, blue stem grass that waved away above his head to make a path to reach the school-house. In 1852 ]\Ir. Rosenbum crossed the plains to California, where he remained five years, returning to Illinois in 1857. After his return from California he located in Henrv countv, where he resided until September, 18fi2, when lie enlisted in Co. G. 112th 111. Vol. Inf He was engaged in all the battles and skirmishes in which that regiment took pai-t, and they were many. While o]»erating as mounted infantry he had a horse shot under him at Philadelphia, Tennessee. After three years and three months' service he was mustered out at (ioldsboro. North Carolina. After his return home from the army he resided in Oxford, in Henry county, until 186!), when he removed to New Windsor and engaged hi the drug business which he has continued to the present time. He had one brother, James, who died in 1876. At Oxford he married Sarah Criffhir, who was born in Ohio in January, 18-1:3. They have no children, but an adopted son. Is a member of Oxford Lodge, No. 367, A.F.A.M.; also of Horeb Chapter, No. 7, R.A. Masons; also of New Windsor Lodge, No. 578, I.O.O.F. In politics he is a democrat.

WiLLi.^i B. CuLLisoN was born in Knox county, Ohio, March 1 7, 1831. His father, Jeramiah Cullison, was a native of Maryland, and a farmer. He emigrated to Ohio in 1810, and there married Rebecca Coulter, who was a native of Pennsylvania. He moved to Illinois in 1842, settling on Haw creek, near Gilson, Knox county. In 1815 he removed to the vicinity of Victoria, in the same county. The subject of this sketch was engaged in farming until 1852, when he crossed the plains to California where he was engaged in mining and packing until 1856, when he returned to Illinois, arriving home in December of that year. In the spring of 1860 he again went to California where he remained until 1862, arriving in Illinois, on his return, in February. The following summer he enlisted in company E. 102d 111. Vol. Inf.; was with the regiment through all its varied ex])eriences until the 1 Tth of July, 1864, at the Chattahoochie river in Georgia ; he was sent to the hospital at Nashville, thence to Evansville, Indiana, thence to Quincy, Illinois, where he was discharged at the close of the war. September 16, 1868, he mari-ied Ellen Bradford, daughter of A. B. Bradford, of Greene township, this county, who was a native of Pennsylvania, but lived some time in Ohio before coming to Illinois. Her mother, Margaret Hall, was a native of Ohio, where Ellen was born January 11, 1810. After his marriage Mr. Cullison settled on a farm, the E. ^ S.W. Sec. 21, in Rivoli township, to which he has added from time to time until his farm now comprises three hundred and twenty acres. In 1879 he built a new house, which is very finely finished, on the N.AV. ^ of Sec. 27 where he 'now resides. The children are Sadie, born June 1, 1872, and Arthur, born May 9, 1876, Mr. and Mrs. Cullison are both members of Zion Methodist Episcopal church, and Mr. C/ullison is a member of Oxford Lodge, No. 377, A.F.A.M. Mr. Cullison engages quite largely in stock raising, feeding, and in buying and shipping stock.

J. Warren Reynolds was born in Canada, June 30, 1810, and came to the Ignited States with his parents in June, 1811, and settled near Lafayette, in Stark county, Illinois. Removed to Mercer county April, 1855, settling on the southwest of section 26, in Rivoli township, where he now resides, his fjirm comprising eighty acres. May 31, ISns. married Harriet E. Armstrong, of Bei-wick, Warren county, Illi- iiois, wlio died April 4, 1873. They liad two children : a boy, Orvie E., born April 29, 18^)9, and a e:irl, who died in February, 1873. May 14, 1874, married Miss Alice Summers, daughter of Joseph Summers, of Viola, Illinois. She is a native of this state, born August 17, 1849. They have two children : Esther, born June 4, 1875, and Jessie B., born November 24, 1879. His father, Alanson Reynolds, was a native of Canada, and died here August 17, 1879, at the age of eighty-seven. His mother died September 10, 1879, at the age of seventy-seven. One brother, Peter Reynolds, lives in Kansas, and served in a Kansas regiment during the w^ar, and carries in his person two bullets received from Price's men at Osawatomie, Kansas. In 1881 Mr. R. built a neat and commodious residence on his farm, wdiere he can enjoy the fruits of his industry. Mr. R. can relate many anuising incidents connected with his early life in this state, having driven a team to Chicago in company with his father on several occasions, when it was common to haul wheat from this part of the country to that city. In politics Mr. R. is a democrat. lie is also a member of Oxford Lodge, No. 367, A.F.A.M.

Matthew F. Postlewait was born in Huntingdon county. Pennsylvania, August 22, 1817. His father, John Postlewait, was also a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1776; came to Illinois in 1855, and died in February, 1861. Mr. P. spent his boyhood on the farm, but learned the trade of carj^enter, at which he worked until he came west, and for a short time after his arrival in this state. August 24, 1841, he married Miss Mary J. Yocum, born in Pennsylvania, January 1, 1823, daughter of Jesse Yocum, of that state, who died in the sj)ring of 1877. Mr. P. came to Illinois i i 1845, by the way of the Ohio and Mississippi rivers, landing at Oquawka. It took four weeks to make the tri]). His first settlement w^as on the northwest of section 28, in Suez townshi]), wdiere he continued to reside until 1857, when he sold his ftirm and removed to his present ])lace, the southwest of section 26, in Rivoli township, where he has 134 acres. He also owns eighty acres in North Henderson township. For some time after he came here he did all his trading at Oquawka, but after Keithsburg was established, he transferred his trade to that place. Their children are : Hannah G., born August 15, 1842 (deceased); Calvin AV., born October 8, 1843, now in mercantile business at Alexis; Martha E., born August 12, 1845 (deceased); John M., born April 21, 1848, on a farm in North Henderson townshij); AVilliam G., born December 20, 1850, farmer, lives in Missoin-i ; Amy K.. born April 8, 1853 (deceased); Jessie Y., born October 22, 1855, in hardware and grocery business in Cable, Illinois ; Olivia B., born November 4, 1857 ; Blanche A., born

June 8, 1860, is one of Mercer county's successful teachers; and Ralph J., born April 13, 1864. The three last named reside at home. Mrs. P. is a member of the Congregational church, of ISTew Windsor. Mr. P. is an old Jeffersonian democrat.

John Coleman was born in Mercer county, Pennsylvania, July 24, 1824. His father, Samuel Coleman, was also a native of Pennsylvania, born in the year 1800, and died in the fall of 1875. His mother, Sarah Alvin, was of Irish descent, was a native of Pennsylvania, born in 1803, and still lives, six miles east of Victoria, in Knox county. His father came to Illinois in 1854, by wagon, from Pennsylvania. He raised a family of fourteen children, eight boys and six girls, of whom the subject of this sketch is the oldest. Twelve of these still live, seven boys and five girls. Two of the brothers live in Iowa ; the rest all live in this State. In 1847 Mr. Coleman married Elizabeth Ghost, born m Venango county, Pennsylvania, in 1820, and died in 1875, in the fifty-fifth year of her age. They had four children: Vinie (wife of C. L. Petrie, of Xew Windsor), Samuel, Susan, and John G. In January, 1877, Mr. Coleman was again married to the widow of David Ramsey, nee Josie M. Gasney. Mrs. Coleman has three children: Maud Ramsey (twelve years old), Emma R. (ten years old), and Edith P. Coleman (born January 14, 1878. Mr. Coleman was brought uj) on a farm, and has always followed that avocation. Ilis present farm contains 210 acres of the very best land in the township, and lies adjoining the plat of the village of New Windsor. In 1881 Mr. Coleman erected a fine large residence on his farm, whicli he did not get entirely finished, but expects to complete during the present season. Mr. and Mrs. Coleman are members of the Methodist Episcopal church of New Windsor, he being one of its most active members and leader of the class for a number of years.