Stratton Township (part 2 of 2)

STEPHEN J. SHEPHERD, M. D., V ermilion ; this gentleman was born in Vigo Co., Ind., Aug. 11, 1850 ; and is theson of James W. and Catharine (Clapp) Shep¬ herd ; his father was a native of Kentucky, having moved to Vermilion Co., Ind., in 1811 ; thence to Vigo Co. ; here he was one of the best known and highly respected farmers of Vigo Co. ; he died June, 1875, at 67 years old ; Dr. Shepherd's mother was one of the early settlers of Indiana, having made her home in Indiana about 1813 ; during the Indian war, she was garrisoned in a fort under Gen. Har¬ rison ; she is now living on the old home¬ stead, in Vigo Co., Ind., at 67 years old ; Dr. Shepherd was raised on his father's farm ; received a common-school education , he first commenced the study of medicine in 1874, under Dr. John H. Morgan, of New Goshen, Ind. ; in 1875-76, he at¬ tended the College of Physicians and Sur¬ geons, of New York City; in 1876-77, he attended the College of Physicians and Surgeons, of Indianapolis, Ind. ; here he received a diploma; in 1878, he com¬ menced his profession as an M. D. in Ver¬ milion ; is fast gaining a large practice.

GEORGE W. SIMS, stock and grain merchant, Vermilion; was born in Edgar Co., Ill., Oct. 31, 1832, and is the son of Hall and Annie (Jones) Sims ; his father is a native of South Carolina ; born April 25, 1795 ; he with his parents moved to Kentucky ; here he remained until he was 20 years old ; married June 27, 1813, to Miss Annie Jones, of South Carolina ; she died in April, 1846, leaving eleven chil¬ dren ; he remarried in 1847, to Mrs. Jane Kimbrough, of Hardin Co., Ky. ; she died in 1875. Mr. Hall Sims came to Illinois in 1815 ; first settled in Crawford Co. ; here he remained about six years, thence to Edgar Co. ; here he has remained ever since ; is one of the pioneers of the county. Mr. George W. Sims, the subject of this sketch, was raised on his father's farm ; this business he has followed principally through life until about six years ago, when he commenced the stock and grain business; to-day he is in partnership with Mr. J. C. Besier, as Sims & Besier, stock -and grain dealers. Mr. Sims married Miss Nancy S. Koho, born in Edgar Co., III., May 31, 1838; daughter of Young and Sarah ( Allen) Koho, one of the pioneers of Ed¬ gar Co. ; have five children. Mr. Sims has held several offices of public trust, Town Clerk and School Trustee.

JACOB STOTTS, farmer ; P. 0. Ver¬ milion ; was born in South Carolina Oct. 4. 1826, and is the son of Jacob and Re¬ becca (Weaver) Stotts; father a farmer; when Mr. Stotts was a child, he, with his parents, moved to North Carolina ; thence to Kentucky ; from there they moved to Illinois and settled on Sugar Creek, about 1833, at Center's Mill ; here his father was engaged in working in the mill ; came here very poor, but with hard labor and good management, at his death was a wellto-do farmer ; the death of his father placed Mr. Stotts at the head of the farm which he managed very successfully ; he moved to Iowa ; here he remained about two years ; returned to Edgar Co., Ill. During the late war, he enlisted in Co. B, Mo. Eng. Regt., and did good service in building bridges and trestle work for the armies. Returned to Edgar Co. ; here he has been engaged in farming ever since. Owns a good improved farm of 199 acres. Is a Republican in politics and a member of the United Brethren Church. Married Miss Nancy A. Henderson, of Indiana, by whom he has had ten children, nine living. His son John Stotts was born in Edgar Co., 111., 1840; who was raised on his father s farm. In 1865. he enlisted in Co. G, 3d U. S. A., as Sergeant ; served three years and was honorably discharged in 1868. Mr. Stotts has been engaged in different occupations ; was at one time a salesman in a tobacco house ;> taught school two years ; now eugaged in farming. Married Miss Hannah Campbell, of Edgar Co., Ill., by whom he has three children - William. Frederick and Oscar.

M. D. STEP, farmer ; P. 0. Paris ; this gentleman is one of the pioneers of Strat¬ ton Tp., Edgar Co. ; was born in Page Co., Va., May 21, 1812, and is the son of Abraham and Mary Kiser Step. His father was a native of Virginia, and a blacksmith by trade. Mr. Step was married to his first wife in Virginia in 1834, to Matilda Yeager, of Virginia. In 1837, with wife and two children, started West in a wagon drawn by two horses; they arrived in Edgar Co., Oct. 10, 1837. Here Mr. Step first purchased eighty acres of land of the present farm he now owns, being very poor at that time, only having $72 cash, he had to make part payment by giving his two horses and wagon in paying for land ; they first moved into a log cabin in the rear of the present homestead ; here they set out in farming, Mr. Step working at the blacksmith and wagon-making busi¬ ness in connection with his farm ; here he has managed by hard labor and industry, for the last forty-one years, to accumulate a farm of 200 acres, with good improve¬ ments. Mr. Step's first wife died in 1860, by whom they had eight children, two children living; he then, in 1861, mar¬ ried Jane Plum, of Virginia, who was born Feb. 13, 1831, daughter of John and Sarah Ann Plum ; had seven children, five children living. Mr. Step is a mem¬ ber of the M. E. Chitrch.

ALEXANDER STUBBS, blacksmith, Vermilion ; was born in Marion Co., Ind., Feb. 10, 1850, and is the son of J. and Martha E. Heaton Stubbs. His father was a carpenter by trade, and a native of Ohio. Mr. Stubbs commenced to learn the blacksmith trade with Wright & Bro. In 1878, he commenced in business for him¬ self ; owns the largest blacksmith-shop in Vermilion, and with his brother Oliver, these gentlemen are prepared to do all kinds of blacksmithing, horse-shoeing, wagon-making or anything usually done in a first-class blacksmith-shop. Mr. Stubbs married Miss Lucy J. McBride, of Harri¬ son Co., Ind., daughter of Gillespie and Lydia McBride, who were among the early settlers of Harrison Co., Ind. ; have three children.

WILLIAM H. VOLKERS, merchant. Vermilion ; was born in Clark Co., Ill., Jan. 4, 1855, and is the son of Lewis and Caroline Geisert Volkers. His father is one of the leading physicians and mer¬ chants of Dennison, Ill. Mr. Volkers' first experience in the drug business in Vermilion was clerking for Dr. E. Ferris, he remained with this gentleman about eight months ; he then accepted a similar position with the Messrs. Drs. Ferris ; here he remained about three years. In 1877, Mr. Volkers commenced the mercantile business in Vermilion ; to-day he ranks as one of the leading business men of the place ; carries a first-class stock of pure drugs and patent medicines, and a full line of family groceries. He married Miss Annie Lamb, of Illinois.

DAVID A. WELTON, farmer; P. 0. Paris ; this gentleman came to Edgar Co. in 1835; was boi*n in Warren Co., Ohio, May 20, 1827, and is the son of Solomon and Elizabeth Tubs Welton. His father was a farmer and teamster, a native of Kentucky, having moved to Ohio at an early day. He married in Ohio Sept. 27, 1819, to Elizabeth Tulis ; then, in 1835, with wife and family, moved to Illinois, and settled in Edgar Co., northwest of Paris; here he commenced farming, and, in 1837, he was taking a load of lard to market, he took sick on the road and died Jan. 26, 1837, leaving wife and nine chil¬ dren. Mr.Welton's mother moved to Iowa, where she died. Mr. Welton learned the car¬ penter's trade and has been engaged at this trade at different times. Was a resident of Kansas about two years. In 1865, he purchased the present farm ; here he has re¬ mained ever since; was Justice of the Peace four years. Is a member of the M. E. Church ; he helped build the first camp-meeting grounds in Edgar Co. Mar¬ ried Mary Crabb - Widner, born in Fayette Co., Ohio, Nov. 27, 1812, daugh¬ ter of John Crabb ; moved to Parke Co., Ind., 1822.

W. 0. WILSON, farmer; P. 0. Paris; the above-named gentleman is one of the most successful farmers of Stratton Tp. ; was born in Crawford Co., Ill., June 14, 1831, and is the son of James H. and J. (Codwell) Wilson ; he is a native of Vir¬ ginia and she a native of Pennsylvania, and were early settlers of Illinois ; his father came here in 1800 and settled in Crawford Co., Ill. ; Mr. Wilson was brought up on his father's farm, engaged in farming from the time he was able to hold the plow, and in the winter months attended the district schools of the period ; in 1858, he came to Edgar Co. ; has held the office of Super¬ visor of Stratton Tp. for several years with honor and credit. Mr. Wilson owns acres of land ; he is a Republican in pol¬ itics and a member of the Presbyterian Church. Married Miss Cassie Blackburn, daughter of Col. James M. Blackburn, whose biography appears in this work.

WILLIAM S. WILKINS ; P. 0. Ver¬ milion ; this gentleman is one of the oldest men in Edgar Co. ; he was born in Hart¬ ford Co., N. C., April 7, 1791, and is the son of William and Joanna (Mullen) Wil¬ kins ; his father was a native of Virginia, was a soldier of the war of 1812 ; Mr. Wilkins, when he was near 5 years old, with his parents moved to Tennes¬ see ; here he was engaged in farming un¬ til he was 21 years old ; he then set out in traveling and . traveled for three years in Kentucky and- Tennessee ; in 1814, he went to Vincennes, Ind. ; in Vincennes he learned his trade, bri