Young America Township

Organization

On the 9th day of March, 1854, at the meeting of the Board of Supervis¬ ors, an order was passed creating a precinct in the northwest part of the county, whose name and limits should be as follows :

" Ordered, That an election precinct, to be known as Young America Pre¬ cinct, be established and bounded as follows, viz.: Beginning at the northwest corner of the county, thence south with the county line to the south part of Township 16, Range 14 west ; thence east to the southeast corner of Township 16 north, Range 13 west; thence north two miles ; thence east to the west line of Prairie Precinct ; thence north to the county line ; thence along the county line west to the place of beginning."

It was also ordered that " the place of holding the election in said precinct be at the house of Perez Barker, and that James Gains, George Reed and John¬ son Ross be Judges of Election in said precinct."

By noticing these outlines on the map, the reader can readily trace the original exterior of the precinct. It then included nearly all of Ross Town¬ ship and none of what is now Shiloh. Subsequently, when the limits of

Embarrass and Pilot Grove Precincts were changed, and Buck formed from the latter, taking its place both in name and territory, the northern part of these two precincts was attached to Young America. In 1866, when Shiloh Town¬ ship was formed, it was created from the " south part of Y7oung America and the north part of Buck Townships." So say the records. The erection of Ross and Shiloh Townships left Young America in its present shape and size, which is large enough to admit of another division whenever the settlements iustifv such a move.

The township is six sections wide by eight and one-half long, containing, therefore, fifty-one full sections, or thirty-two thousand six hundred and forty acres.

The township, with the exception of the eastern and northern part, is all prairie. Here and there are a few groves of trees, of various sizes. The largest is Hickory Grove, in the northern part. Near it was made the first settlement in this township, an account of which appears in the historical part of this narrative. In former times, these groves afforded some good timber, which, however, has all been used in the erection of buildings, and is now superseded by an inferior second growth.

Until lately, the prairie portions of Young America were considered untillable, and were allowed to remain open. They were used largely by herders of cattle from other places, who drove their cattle here, herding them in the sum¬ mer-time, and feeding them in the winter on stalks purchased for that purpose. The same method of raising stock was employed in Shiloh Township, which is largely prairie country in area, and was formerly known as Young America. The prairie here is exceedingly level, and, naturally, affords little drainage. For this reason it was, in the common vernacular of the region, " a rather wet country." The prairie grass grew very rank, holding the water in its thicklyclustered roots and shielding the sun by its heavy growth. Hence, the country was in accord with its description, and did not present a very inviting prospect to the agriculturist. The land had been largely entered by speculators, who knew very well it would one day come under the domain of cultivation, and would be valuable. Time verified their predictions, as the sequel will show.

Past And Present

As has been incidentally mentioned, the first settler in this part of the county located at Hickory Grove. In the year 1820, a man named Helvene Stine came to this grove, began cutting trees, principally for coons or for honey. A\ bile engaged in this sport, he got after a good-sized coon, and in cutting down the tree, by some means, he was killed by its falling. He was buried in what was known as the Frazier Grave-yard, in territory now comprised in Vermilion County. He was the first man of whom any record exists as finding and being in this grove. No doubt, he, and other early pioneers, saw Mulberry

Grove and others about this same time, but no record is kept of their going to any of them. It is, however, safe to assume they went there and elsewhere in quest of game.

In 1822, Mr. Daniel Reed came to Hickory Grove, and finding it a. desira¬ ble place to live, built himself a cabin, and became the first settler in what is now Young America. That was a little wThile before Edgar County was created, and when the population in this part of the State was not counted by thou¬ sands.

At that date, there was no Paris or Danville, and to enter land, Mr. Reed had to go to Palestine, a good many miles south of him, to the land office there. Indians, deer, wolves and other native inhabitants of this part of the West were plenty. The Indians were only troublesome in that they would sometimes steal. Deer made good venison, interspersed with turkey and wild chicken, or with an occasional bear steak or tenderloin. Wolves would not only steal, but would kill. They soon learned the abode of civilization, and not only rendered the night hideous with their incessant howling, but made sad havoc with chicken-roosts or in the pig-pens. They soon learned to be rather partial for tender pork, and when the settler had any such property, he was obliged to guard it until it was large enough to defend itself against this scavenger of the prairie. After the settlements became numerous, successful wolf-hunts were inaugurated, which, in time, drove them from the country. Now, they or deer are a rarity.

Mr. Reed and his family seem to have been alone until, getting tired of his isolated condition, or his family may not have favored the place - at any rate, Mr. Marion Kendall states that when he came to what is now Young America Township there was not a man living in it. He is a native of Stafford County* Va., removing from the " Old Dominion," with his parents, to Kentucky, in 1814. In 1829, he came on horse-back to Illinois, on a prospecting tour. He remained here nearly a year, returning in 1830 to Kentucky. It was when on this trip, that he came to near Hickory Grove, and concluded to make it his future home. He says there was a pole-cabin, or body of one, about a mile north¬ west of the grove, but by whom it was built he does not know. He does not refer to Mr. Reed, who had probably left the grove. When Mr. Kendall returned to his home in the Blue-grass State, he married, and, in 1831, returned to Illinois and settled. In the fall of the same year, he was followed by Mr. Conrad Walters, who entered land, and, with the help of his hired man, Mr. Kendall and his father-in-law, Henry Retter, built him a cabin. While this was being built, he lived in the pole-cabin before referred to. His settlement was permanent and was one of the first in the township.

These seem to have been the majority if not all the settlers in this part of Edgar County for some time. Mr. George Reed was here in 1849, when Mr. Jerry Myers came to Mulberry Grove. He states that Mr. Reed and Joseph Culver were in Young America then, and does not recollect any others.

However, there were several families about Hickory Grove, and near, in what is now Vermilion County. They went to Old Horner, or Georgetown, for mail ; to Paris or to the mouth of Big Vermilion, twenty miles away, for milling purposes. They did not enjoy many luxuries. They were met by the necessi¬ ties of life and looked upon them as the chief part of their existence. We will not pause to describe their first homes, first mills, first plows, or anything considered first in the pioneer's life ; that has been done elsewhere in these pages, and as the frontier life is the same in all parts of the West, one description will apply to all. The settlers expected privation and discomforts ; but the hope of a better day ever nerved them to their tasks and kept them cheerful.

The early births and marriages in the community are interesting items and must not be omitted. Such events do not commonly come in the order given above, but the reverse. However, we will state them as they occurred. The first birth here, as far as we have been able to find, was that of Martin Reed, a son of Daniel Reed. The date of this event was not given us.

Two couples seem to come in for the glory as the first married in this com¬ munity. One informant says that Frank Barnett and Jerusha Walters can justly claim that honor, while another says that John Hildreth, a brother of A. K. Hildreth, and a daughter of Mr. Walters (name not given), were married about three years after the arrival of Mr. W. and his family, and that the honor properly belongs to them. The weight of evidence seems in their favor. In the latter case, we are told the wedding occurred in the log cabin erected for Mr. Walters in 1831, and that the marriage referred to was celebrated in pure pioneer style. A dance was kept up all night.

The occasion of a marriage in pioneer days was made a merry affair. After the ceremony had been performed, to which all the neighbors were invited, and when the old folks had gone home, the cabin was cleared and dancing begun. A good fiddler was always in demand, and was sure to be a welcome personage in a frontier dwelling. His music may not have been very classical ; one thing, though, may safely be said, it was stirring.

After the dance was well along, say about 9 or 10 o'clock, a deputation of young women stole off the bride and put her to bed, generally in the loft, where a bed had been provided, covered with clothes of her own manufacture. The young men of the party affected not to notice this proceeding, and no interval was allowed in the dance. As soon as the young ladies had returned, the young men watching their opportunity in like manner disposed of the groom, who was generally a very willing prisoner, and deposited him beside his bride. Often they were remembered with refreshments during the night ; and if a u Black Betty ' was handy (which was often the case, for whisky was as common a drink then as now, though apparently not so active on the imbiber) it was sent to the bedside of the pair, whereby they might imbibe from its contents did they desire. V h ether this was done at the wedding we have mentioned, we are not prepared to say ; we are only speaking of weddings in general.

Reference has been made to the number of Indians seen in this part of the country after the whites began to settle. They were generally of the Kickapoo tribe, and were peaceful. They, like the wild animals, felt the encroachment of the white man on their domain, and gradually left the country, following the path of the setting sun. Mr. Mason Kendall remembers seeing about five hundred Indians, who, when on their way to their reservation in the West, stopped in the grove and hunted about a week. Henry Kendall remembers that when he was about eleven years old his father took him to see the trenches they had dug in the ground, in which to properly dry their " jerked beef." This, he says, was nearly twelve years after the Indians had been there. He thinks they were a band of Cherokees, but does not now remember cer¬ tainly.

A rather historic row of cottonwood-trees stands in this township. They were for many years a landmark here. Some of them are now nearly three feet in diameter. They were planted by Mr. Mason Kendall, in the fall of 1838, on the day Henry Kendall was born. They, and he, are over forty years old.

Mr. Kendall has always been an active man in this township. He built the first store in these parts. It stood near where Mr. G. W. Kendall now resides, and contained the usual miscellaneous assortment of pioneer goods.

He was also the first to introduce successfully the cultivation and growth of clover, timothy and blue grass here. These have in time almost entirely super¬ seded the prairie grass. His son Henry was put in the saddle when nine years of age, to herd cattle. He says he has been there a good deal of the time since.

This narrative brings us down to the time the second influx of emigrants came in. This is the time referred to by Mr. Jerry Myers, who states that when he came to Mulberry Grove the Reed family were living at Hickory Grove, and Joseph Culver at Spring Grove. The others whom we have named he does not mention. They may have been near the boundary of some other township, or just in the edge of what is now Vermilion County, as, in the early days, that was a part of Edgar. Mr. William McNutt states that when he came, in 1854, there were two or three settlers here in addition to those mentioned by Mr. Myers in 1848 or 1849.

Among those of this period, say from 1848 to 1858, may be mentioned Mr. James Ofr, who came from Pennsylvania, Henry Ross, Thomas Guthrie and John and William McDonald.

These persons built cabins, opened farms as others had done, but were not obliged to undergo the same privations, as by this time the country was toler¬ ably well settled. Railroads were built to various parts of the West, and were the means of opening this vast domain to the people in the East.

All early settlements were made along the northern and eastern parts of the township. They had not learned the art of properly cultivating the prairies ;

As late as 1870, when a county map was made, and each resident's house located on it, the reader can notice the people lived in the eastern and northern portions entirely. Mr. Hume states that when he came, in 1865, there were no people on the prairie ; it was used as a large pasture, immense # droves of cattle being herded thereon.

After the Indianapolis, Decatur & Springfield Railroad was opened, in 1872, and people saw that by proper drainage this land could be made profit¬ able, they settled it as if by magic. The building of Hume and Metcalf opened an outlet through the railroad for the disposal of their crops, and not an acre of land was left unclaimed.

Inquiries relating to the first schools and churches in Young America Town¬ ship, omitting that part now included in Ross Township, develop the fact that the first schoolhouse was erected here in 1861. Some assert this date as incorrect, placing the first one, the " Old Green Schoolhouse " as early as 1854 or 1855. Mr. Hume says that in 1865 there were only three in the whole township. We are inclined to the opinion from all that could be learned, that the first one was erected prior to 1861, for to a certainty school was taught before that date. May be that only the room of a settler's cabin was used. One informant gives the first school teacher's name, saying it was Sarah Henthorn. He also states that the first schoolhouse was erected in 1861, that it stood neaf Mr. G. W. Kendall's, and that it is now used as a carriage-house. It is very certain that until 1870 or later, only three or four schoolhouses were in this town¬ ship. It will be remembered, that the population was sparse until 1872, and that but few would be needed. From that date until now, as the people came in and occupied the territory, others were erected as their wants required.

We are informed that Rev. Mr. Winn was the first minister of the Gospel in these parts. What year he came is not now accurately known. He was a Methodist, and with the characteristic promptness of that denomination, fol¬ lowed the pioneer to his frontier home, and endeavored to found a church. His efforts do not appear to have been very successful, for no church of any kind existed in \ oung America until the erection of one at Palermo, three or four.years ago. That, too, is a Baptist, and is now the only one of any denomination, we were told, in the township.

In the eastern part of Young America, persons desiring to attend relig¬ ious services go to Chrisman. While in other parts occasional meetings are held in schoolhouses, by clergymen of different denominations, who find adher¬ ents to their several religious faiths among the people.

Leaving the description of the country comprised in Young America, we will devote the remainder of the history to the villages. Of these, there are three in the township, viz., Hume, Metcalf and Palermo.

Hume

When Mr. E. W. S. Hume located where the village bearing his name now stands, there was not a single habitation near him. He came here in February, 1865, about the close of the late war, and purchased a tract of land on the pro¬ posed line of the railroad, which then began to attract some attention to this part of the country, and which has much to do with the settling of the prairies here. In November, Mr. Hume brought his family to their then new home, and opened a farm and began its cultivation.

The next year, Mr. Hume concluded a town could be started here, and laid his plans accordingly. Before he accomplished the object, however, he was joined by Henry C. Moore, Thomas H. McCoughty and H. B. Hammond, whose names appear on the plat as incorporators, filed in the Clerk's office. For them and Mr. Hume, Mr. George W. Foreman laid out the village of Hume early in November, 1873.

There was not a house on the original plat when the survey was made. Persons, however, stood ready to build as soon as good titles to lots could be obtained. 0. H. Rogers and brother built the first house on the plat. It is their present store, which they yet occupy. Next, a blacksmith-shop was built by Eben Hathaway, who still fills the part in life described so beautifully in Longfellow's poem. Michael Ewel and W. C. Smith next erected houses here. In the summer of 1874, the hotel was built and the store now occupied by Harry Boon. In 1875, the warehouse appeared. The schoolhouse was one of the first buildings erected. It is yet used ; and, as no incorporation has been effected in the village, the school is still under district control. As yet, there is no church here. Those who desire to attend religious services go to the Baptist Church at Palermo.

It will be observed from the foregoing description that the town grew with great rapidity for a year or two. In fact, the whole place was built up in that length of time. The buildings are all new, evidencing the comparatively short existence of the town.

Four stores, two or three shops of various kinds, one hotel, the post office, the depot and warehouse comprise the business part of Hume. It is an excel¬ lent shipping point for grain and stock, two or three firms being engaged in that business. Mr. Hume informed us that over one hundred thousand bushels of corn are annually sent from here, while oats and rye are shipped in paying

Not long since, a census wTas taken to ascertain the number of inhabitants, with a view to incorporate the town. The census, no doubt very thorough, as such are apt to be, gave a population of 270. As thirty more than that number are required by the State law, the idea was abandoned for the present.

This village, like Hume, owes its existence to the railroad. It was surveyed by Mr. C. E. Carpenter, early in November, 1874, for Mr. John A. Metcalf, from whom it received its name, and wTho owned the land on which it is situated. He is an energetic man, one of the early residents here, and, seeing the pros¬ pect for a town, immediately acted on his resolution to establish one. Mr. Asaph Rogers opened the first store, which is now kept by Henry Ross. There is but the one in the place Another was opened, but the trade did not has since been added an elevator, both of which are now under the control of the Ketchum Brothers. They are doing a good business, as much grain is brought here, especially corn.

The town is yet quite small, but enjoys considerable local trade. In addi¬ tion to the store, mill and elevator and post office there are a few' shops of vari¬ ous kinds, supported by the trade of the surrounding farmers.

Palermo

This small village, at Hickory Grove, is the oldest in the towmship. It wras begun in 1863 by Mr. Henry Ross, who built a store there and carried a good stock of goods. It wTas, not long after, joined by another similar enterprise, then a shop or two appeared, and the town was worthy a post office. It had been a kind of central point many years, and mail was brought here as early as the first store, if not a little before. It was at first intended to call the village and post office by the name of the grove ; but finding another Hickory Grove in the State, at the suggestion of Mr. C. L. C. Bradfield, the name Palermo wTas bestowed. We are informed it was named for a Western town. The place has and still enjoys a good local trade. The stores have a good custom, and wrere it on a railroad it would be more than a rival for its more fortunate neighbors. The school is under district control. The town is not incorporated ; even the plat is not recorded.

As has been mentioned, the Baptists have a church here. It was built three or four years since. Its members live in the village and in the adjacent country.

No other denomination, as yet, has any churches in the township, and in Palermo none are necessary. One church, well conducted, is abundant for any ordinary-sized American village.

When the survey for the railroad was made, in 1850, a station, to be named New Harmony, was designated, in the southwest part of the township. The road not being built, no town was platted. When the railroad was completed, in 1872, the growth of Hume and Metcalf put an end to any prospects for a village at New Harmony, and the project was abandoned. However, a stop¬ ping-place was made a little west of the old site, and, in honor of one of the principal residents near it, was named McGowan. There is nothing here but a platform.

' ALSON L. AMES, farmer ; P .0. Pa¬ lermo ; owns 240 acres, in two tracts, in Y. A. Tp. ; was born in Chittenden Co., Vt., March 28, 1818; removed with his parents westward when thirteen years of age, stopping in Michigan until 1835, then to Boone Co., this State, in 1835. Was married to Urania Howell Dec. 12, 1850 ; she was born in Franklin, Delaware Co., N. Y., April 1, 1824; have four children - Edgar, Urania (born in California), Ida and Nellie. Mr. A. was Sheriff of Boone Co., this State, from 1848 to 1850. In 1852, he went to California by overland route ; was four months making the trip ; after his arrival there he engaged in min¬ ing, and continued in that business until 1859. His wife joined him in California after he had been there three years, and remained with him till his return to the States, accomplishing the journey alone by the way of Panama; she died Feb. 17, 1875. At the time of her death, she was a member of the Baptist Church. Mr. A. is also a member of the same church.

SYLVANUS BRADFIELD, farmer, Sec. 1 ; P.O. Palermo; owns 416 acres ; was born in Columbiana Co., Ohio, Oct. 22, 1820 ; went to Rockville, Ind., in 1852 ; re¬ sided there until 1863 ; during that year he came to this township and settled. Married twice ; first to Am)7 Harrison in the fall of 1841 ; she was born in Columbiana Co., Ohio, May 18, 1821 ; died May 3, 1867 ; had six children by this union, four now living, three in this township and one in Kansas ; C. L. C., Postmaster at Palermo ; William D., farmer; Mary C., in Kansas, and Laura, now Mrs. Carlton; -Simon H. died May 3, 1872, in Kansas ; was a sol¬ dier during the late war, and served one year in place of his father, who was drafted. Mr. B. is at present serving his second term as Supervisor; also held office of As¬ sessor, both in this State and in Indiana. His second marriage was with Mrs. Mary E. Thomas, widow of the late James Thomas, June 6, 1870. Mr. B. is a mem¬ ber of the Christian Church.

C. L. C. BRADFIELD, merchant, Pa¬ lermo ; owns one and one-half acres in village of Palermo, with store and two dwellings ; is a son of Sylvanus Bradfield,

Esq.; was born in Columbiana Co., Ohio, Feb. 1, 1851 ; came to this county with parents when about five years of age. Mr. B. was brought up a farmer. In May, 1874, he entered the mercantile business in this village, where he has continued ever since, with success. Mr. B. was married June 16, 1875, to Allie Walters; she was born near Cincinnati, Ohio, Feb. 11, 1851; have one child - Claude Harrison. Was ap¬ pointed Postmaster in 1875. Mr. B. keeps a well-selected general stock of goods. His trade has averaged about $10,000 per year since he commenced business. He is ac¬ commodating, and is well adapted for the business that he is engaged in.

THOMAS BOYCE, farmer and butcher. Sec. 36 ; P. O. Cherry Point ; owns forty acres ; born in Whittlesea, Cambridgeshire, Eng., Sept. 12, 1826; raised a farmer until 14 years of age; he then learned the butcher's trade ; he followed the latter business until 1851 ; he emigrated to this country during that year, and settled in Edgar Co., about six miles east of where he now resides, where he lived about twelve years, except a portion of the time that he resided in Paris and Terre Haute; he then settled where he now resides. Mr. B. was married to Elizabeth Boon Aug. 30, 1847 ; she was born Aug. 11, 1828, in Whittlesea, England ; have had four chil dren ; three living - Elizabeth, William T. (deceased), Alice and John. Held office of School Director. Mr. B. has two very ancient relics in his possession, viz., an eight-day clock, over one hundred and fifty years old ; it was made in Peterborough, England, by a Mr. T. G. Wilson; it has been in Mrs. B.'s family over one hundred and fifty years, and has kept good time almost continuously ever since. Mrs. B. has a tea-pot in her possession that has been in the family over two hundred years. The pattern is very ancient.

GEORGE BARNETT, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 12; P. O. Palermo ; tenant ; was born in Vermilion Co., Ind., Sept. 4, 1848. Married Lizzie Keys, daughter of Wm. Keys, Esq., Sept. 20, 1877 ; she was born Dec. 24j 1858. Mr. B. is a son of Rob¬ ert E. Barnett, Esq., of Vermilion Co., Ill.; he was raised a farmer, during which time he was principally engaged in the stockraising business; Mr. B. has been con¬ nected with Mr. L. T. Davis in farming and stock-raising during the past four years ; they feed from 50 to 150 head of cattle for the market each year, besides a large num¬ ber of hogs, and also some horses. Mr. Davis' farm, where Mr. B. now is, contains 960 acres, over which Mr. B. exercises a general superintendence.

OLIVER BELL, farmer, Sec. 34 ; P. 0. Newman, Douglas Co.; owns 160 acres ; born Oct. 4, 1842, in Muskingum Co., Ohio ; came to this State with his parents, who settled in Coles Co., this State, where his father resided until his death, which occurred March 20, 1875, aged 59 years; his mother died in Ohio when the subject of this sketch was 4 months old. Mr. B. married Charity McCown, daughter of Jonathan McCown, Esq., of this township, Feb. 4, 1864 ; she was born in this county Dec. 15, 1844 ; have six children - Sher¬ man, Grant, Elmer, Cora, Olive and Elsie. Mr. B. was a soldier in the late war ; en¬ listed in Co. H, 59th I. V. I., in August, 1861, from Kansas Tp.; in 1861-62, was in the Department of the West; was in the battle of Pea Ridge, Farmington, Miss., and Perry ville ; served in that regi¬ ment two years, and one year in the 150th I. V. I. Mr. B. contracted an affection of the lungs during his latter term of service, from which he has never recovered.

JOSEPH B. DAINS, farmer and stock-raiser ; P. O. Palermo ; owns 240 acres, valued about $40 per acre ; born in Greene Co., Penn., April 13, 1836 ; when he was 5 years of age, his father died ; he then left home and worked by the month until he was 17 years of age; he then obtained a position to assist in driving a flock of sheep from Pennsylvania to Ver¬ milion Co.; for such service he received $10 per month ; was just thirty-seven days on the road. Was married Aug. 12, 1855, to Sarah Reasor; she was born near Dallas, Vermilion Co., Oct. 12, 1837; her father, Samuel Reasor, died when she was a very small girl ; Mr. D. has five children living and three dead ; the living are named Robert M., Charles B., Ellen J., Annie I. and Clara C.; of the three that died, only one was named, - Ralph. Mr. D. makes a specialty of fine stock ; for fifteen 2-year-old steers, sold to George Hughes

Dec. 10, 1878, he received $40 per head ; their average weight was 1,177 pounds; he turns off a car-load of cattle each year, forty to sixty hogs and from two to- three horses ; in farming he takes pains to raise a variety of produce each year.

JOHN T. DODD, farmer, Sec. 19; P. O. Hume Station; owns 80 acres; born in Sims Tp., this county, May 6, 1846. Married Dec. 13, 1866, to Ruth Hannars; she was born in Hamilton Co., Ohio, Feb. 20, 1845 ; have had five chil¬ dren, four of whom are now living - Amy Inez, Minerva E., Nellie J. and Elizabeth M.; Laura B. died July 20, 1870, aged 2 years and 10 months. Mr. D. holds the office of Town Trustee ; has also held office of School Director. Both Mr. and Mrs. Dodd are members of the Christian Church. They settled where they now reside in 1875. Mr. D.'s father, Lewis Dodd, went to California in 1850 by the overland route ; he died about six weeks after his arrival there.

GEORGE W. DAVIS, farmer, Sec. 25 ; P. O. Newman, Douglas Co. ; owns 160 acres; was born in Elbridge Tp., this county, Oct. 28, 1836 ; was raised a farm¬ er. Married twice ; first to Julia A. Cum¬ mins (daughter of John Cummins, of Elbridge Tp.), Nov. 10, 1859 ; she died Jan. 1, 1870, leaving three children - Wil¬ lard. Sophronia and Leander ; his second marriage was with Mrs. Lavina Tucker (widow of the late Dillard R. Tucker, and daughter of Joseph Leist) ; she was born in Pickaway Co., Ohio, Aug. 23, 1840 ; she had three children by her former hus¬ band - Melissa F., Millard F. and Lorena ; by this present marriage they have two children - Charles H. and Otis Ervin. Mr. D.'s father, who is still living, was a soldier in the Black Hawk war ; served three months ; he lost his horse during the campaign, by a supposed Indian stam¬ pede. Mrs. D.'s first husband was a sol¬ dier during the late war, and lost his life while in the service of his country ; he enlisted in Co. A, 7th I. V. C., in 1862 ; served two years, and died in the hospital at Memphis, Sept. 6, 1864; he was a na- | tive of Edgar Co., and was born Sept. 2, 1836. Mr. D. settled where he now re¬ sides, in 1874. Melissa is teaching school ; has taught three terms ; commenced when 17 years old.

Biographical Sketches

LITTLETON T. DAVIS, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 12 ; P. 0. Palermo ; owns 960 acres ; was born, in Parke Co., Ind., Oct. 12, 1836 ; was raised a farmer ; resided with his parents until 30 years of age ; attended school at Ann Arbor two years ; came to this township in 1862 ; remained two years, and engaged in the cattle busi¬ ness ; in 1864, he permanently settled here, since which time he has been engaged in farming, raising and dealing in cattle and other kinds of stock on a large scale, feeding, on an average each year since 1864, with the exception of six years that he rented the farm, 100 head of cattle, and from 75 to 100 head of hogs ; last year Mr. D. raised 320 acres of corn. Mr. D. is a son of the late Hon. John G. Davis, late member of Congress from the Seventh Congressional District, State of Indiana, which district he represented sev¬ eral successive terms. Mr. D. was mar¬ ried April 6, 1871, to Miss Alice Barnett (daughter of Robert E. Barnett, Esq., of Vermilion Co., Ill.) ; she was born Feb. 27, 1841, in Vermilion Co., Ill.; have two children - Mary and Jane.

JOHN B. GALWAY, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 13 ; P. O. Metcalf ; owns 480 acres ; born in Washington Co., Penn., Oct. 31, 1826; was raised a farmer; at the age of 18, his winter months were oc¬ cupied in school-teaching, which he con¬ tinued until 25 years of age ; he also learned the carpenter's trade, but on ac¬ count of meeting with an accident while assisting to build a bridge, he abandoned the latter occupation at 22. He was mar¬ ried to Elizabeth Mitchell Oct. 30, 1851 ; she was born in the same county Sept. 23, 1828 ; in the fall of 1854, he, in company with a brother, came to this State and en¬ gaged in farming; his first year was spent on some land belonging to Mason Kendall, Esq., in Vermilion Co. ; then in 1856, he removed to Edgar Co , and cultivated with success 160 acres, where Henry Kendall now resides ; here he remained three years ; he continued working land on shares until 1862, when he purchased his first real estate (80 acres where he now re¬ sides) ; he now owns 480 acres of land in 4 e township where he resides ; when he first came to this State, he owned one horse, and had between $30 and $40 in money. Mr. Gr. was elected a member of the first Board of Supervisors, and continued to hold that office for six years ; held office of Justice of Peace three years, and Township Treasurer thir¬ teen years. Have two children - Roxana, born March 18, 1853 (now Mrs. John Kizer, of Ross Tp.), and James H., born Dec. 24, 1856 ; in addition to the above, they have raised two other children - Em¬ ma Dairy mple and Henry Robinson ; also another child now 5 years of age (named Green Riley Vandyke), whom they took two years ago. Mr. G. is very much re¬ spected by all who have the pleasure of his acquaintance, and is known by all as an honest and upright man and public benefactor

WILLIAM B. GALWAY, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 13 ; P. O. Metcalf Station ; owns 284 acres ; born in Washington Co., Penn., Nov. 28, 1828 ; was raised a farm¬ er ; in 1854, in company with a brother (John Galway, Esq., of this township), he came to this State and has resided in this township ever since, with the exception of one year. Was married to Elizabeth Howden, in Washington Co., Penn., March 2, 1865 ; ' she was born in the latter-named place Feb. 4, 1831 ; have had one child - died when an infant. He served his country during the late war in Co. K, 125th I. V. I.; enlisted Aug. 13, 1862; was appointed Second Ser¬ geant, and soon after was promoted to Second Lieutenant ; held the latter office two years ; was in the battles of Perryville, Chickamauga and Mission Ridge. Was the first School Treasurer in the township ; held that office five years ; also held offices of Town Clerk, Collector, Assessor arid other minor offices. Mr. G. and his brother John were poor men when they came here ; all they have they have made since their residence here; in 1875, the subject of this sketch raised and fatted 200 hogs ; he feeds from thirty to fifty head of cattle each year ; also, raises a few horses.

FRANCIS G. GREEN, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 6 ; P. O. Palermo ; owns 770 acres; born in Butler Co., Ohio, Dec. 18, 1816 ; resided with his parents until 22 years of age ; then went to Tippecanoe Co., Ind.; bought a saw-mill and run it four years. Married Elizabeth Ross Nov. 24, 1842 ; she was born in Clinton Co.,

THOMAS GUTHRIE, farmer, Sec. 7 ; P. 0. Palermo; owns 148 acres; born in Washington Co., Penn., Aug. 11, 1822 ; was raised a farmer ; in his younger days he also taught school several years. Was married in November, 1854, in Fayette Co., Penn., to Christian Keys ; she was born in Washington Co., Penn., in May, 1820. In 1854, he came to this State, bringing a flock of 1,600 sheep in which he had an interest ; first stopped nine miles northeast of Danville ; then to this township ; in company with his father and brothers, he rented a farm of 600 acres of Rob¬ ert E. Barnet, Esq. His father (George Guthrie) then purchased 400 acres of land, and died 1857. Mr. G. settled where he now resides about 1859 ; had four children, three now living - Elizabeth, born Nov. 8, 1855, died Jan. 25, 1856 ; George B., born Sept. 18, 1857; Hugh K., born Jan. 18, 1859; Susan J., born Jan. 10, 1861. Served as a soldier in the late war in the 125th I. V. I.; was in the battles of Perry ville and Stone River ; is disabled in the right arm, the result of sickness by exposure after the above battle ; also a partial paralysis of the right side and affection of the right lung. Held office of Assessor, Collector and Con¬ stable seven years all at one time, School Director fifteen years, Justice of the Peace six years, which office he now holds.

State, March 28, 1839. His father (John Hildreth) came to this State from Ken¬ tucky about the year 1835 ; his death occurred March 4, 1876, aged 72. The subject of this sketch was raised in Ver¬ milion Co.; in 1867, he removed to Edgar Co., and settled where he now resides. Was married Aug. 8, 1866, to Josephine Don Carlos. She was born in Pickaway Co., Ohio, March 10, 1845; have six children - America, John, Edward, Alice, Marquis and Lulu. Mr. H. was a soldier in the late war ; he enlisted about the 1st of November, 1861, in Co. H, 2d Regt. Ill. Art., and served until Jan. 1, 1864 ; he then re-enlisted as a veteran and served until Aug. 5, 1865 ; held rank of Cor¬ poral when discharged. Holds office of School Director.

THOMAS HULL, farmer and stockraiser, Sec. 27; P. O. Newman, Douglas Co.; owns 1 ,040 acres, 780 acres in home farm, the balance at the State line (between Indiana and Illinois) ; was born in New York State (while his parents were en route to the West) Nov. 14, 1829 ; was raised principally in Ohio and Indiana ; at the age of 18, he commenced to learn the cooper's trade, which business he contin¬ ued to follow a number of years (a portion of which time he was in Canada and Mich¬ igan); early in 1857, he purchased his State-line farm, and soon after, on the 27th day of August, he married Margaret Jane Campbell ; she was born in Tennessee Feb. 28, 1840 ; her death occurred Aug. 25, 1865 ; had five children by that union, three of whom are now living - Mary Eu¬ genia, Francis Allen and John Campbell ; the deceased were James Marion and an infant, not named; he left his home and farm the next day after the funeral of his wife, and, taking his children with him, he re¬ sided with his father until his second mar¬ riage ; his second marriage was to Maria B. Robinson (a daughter of Martin P. Robinson, Esq., now living in Chrisman); ' have one child by this union - Louisa Jane. Mr. H. has obtained by his own industry all that he now possesses ; he bought his first farm with money earned by working at his trade ; he has put all the improve¬ ments on his home farm himself ; he hauled . the lumber for present dwelling and the fencing for the 160 acres, where it stands, from Jonestown, Ind. (distant thirty miles); in addition to his own residence, he has four tenant houses on his home farm, all occupied ; about a year ago, he purchased a large ditching machine, which requires twenty yoke of oxen to work it ; last spring he kept it constantly at work, during which time he cut 28,000 rods of ditch, the aver¬ age size of which was five feet wide and two feet deep. Mr. H.'s father 'still lives where he first settled (Helt Tp., Vermilion Co., Ind.); his mother died Jan. 15,1875.

JUNIUS B. HILDRETH, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 14; P. 0. Metcalf; owns 480 acres ; was born in Bourbon Co., Ky., March 22, 1833 ; resided at home in Kentucky until 1854 ; first came to this county in 1854 ; lived with the late A. K. Hildreth until the year 1856 ; in 1857, he returned to Kentucky, and remained there until 1860, then came back to this county. Was married May 1, 1864, to Elizabeth Beard; she was born in Vermilion Co. May 12, 1842. Mr. H. settled where he now resides in 1864. Have two children - Katie and Emma. Mr. H. was educated in the stock business, which business he has followed nearly all his life ; he feeds for the market, each year, about 150 head of cattle and from 75 to 100 hogs; Mr.

H. 's father was one of the pioneer settlers of Kentucky; he died in that State in May, 1851, aged about 66 years; he was an uncle to the late A. K. Hildreth, of this township; his mother was Margaret Den¬ nison ; she died in July, 1866, aged 76; she was related to Ex-Gov. DennisoD, of Ohio.

WILLIAM H. HILDRETH, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 4 ; P. O. Palermo ; owns 730 acres of land ; was born in Bourbon Co., Ky., Oct. 20, 1829 ; came to this State with his parents in 1832 ; was raised on the farm where he now resides ; was brought up in the stock business. Married Mary E. Horn Sept. 26, 1869 ; she was born in Randolph Co., Ind., March 25, 1853; have had four children - John, born Feb. 8, 1871 ; Alvin K., born Nov.

I, 1873; James Harvey and William (de¬ ceased). Mr. H.'s father (the late A. K. Hildreth) was born in Fleming Co., Ky., Dec. 17, 1802 ; his death occurred July 19, 1874. He was married to Sarah A. Ritter about the year 1825 ; she was born in Bourbon Co., Ky., in 1807 ; her death occurred July 15, 1876; Mr. H. (father of the subject of this sketch) came to this State with his family in 1832, bringing them in an old-fashioned Virginia wagon drawn by four horses; that was about all he possessed at that time of this world's goods ; he first worked for 50 cents per day, walking from Vermilion Timber to Hickory Grove to perform the same ; with the money thus earned he bought the first i meat for his family ; when he died, he left 2,400 acres of nice land to his children. A more extended sketch will be found in the history of Young America Tp.

ABEL HORN, veterinary surgeon, Metcalf ; born in Wayne Co., Ind., Jan. 16, 1832. Has been twice married, first to Harriet Linton, May 10, 1851 ; she was born in Randolph Co., Ind., July 16, 1832, died in this township Aug. 11, 1875 ; have eight children living - Elmira (wife of William Hildreth, Esq.), Mary E., Francis M., Cinderella, Parthena, Dora, Willie, Sarah E. and Jennie. Dr. H. was raised a farmer, resided with his parents until he was 19, then married and settled on a piece of land of his own in Wayne Co., Ind. In 1856, he emigrated to Ne¬ braska, engaged in the real estate business in Omaha City until 1859, then went to St. Louis and attended a course of lectures at a veterinary college under the superin¬ tendence of Dr. Keller, of that place ; at the conclusion of the course he received a diploma for practicing the veterinary art ; he has followed that profession ever since, principally in this and Vermilion Cos. ; his practice has been attended with good suc¬ cess ; has cured (since his residence in this township) eleven well-defined cases of lock¬ jaw, of thirteen that he has treated ; has saved the lives of four horses by the pro¬ cess known as tracheotomy (an operation that is performed by making an opening in the windpipe) ; he has been in the lecture field to considerable extent, and has talked and interested thousands by his eloquence ; his subjects have been various, viz., the horse and its diseases, temperance, etc. ; the bare announcement that be is to speak always draws a large and appreciative au¬ dience wherever he is known ; he is quite an able writer, and has contributed occa¬ sionally for the press. Dr. H. was a sol¬ dier in the late war ; he enlisted in Co. E, 150th I. V. I., in January, 1865, and served seven months ; he went in as Or- derly and was soon after promoted to First 1 Lieutenant. His second marriage was with Luna Fleming, Aug. 13, 1877 ; she was born in Vermilion Co., Ill., May 16, 1861. I Dr. H.'s parents were Quakers; both were born in North Carolina, his father in 1800, and his mother in 1804 ; they both died in Wayne Co., Ind., the former in 1866, and the latter in 1864.

JAMES HOOVER, farmer, Sec. 1 ; P. 0. Palermo; owns 160 acres; born in Wayne Co., Ind., Aug. 25, 1816. Mar¬ ried America Pickens Oct. 24, 1848 ; she was born in Fairfield Co., Ohio, Sept. 3, 1829; have had nine children, seven of whom are now living - Carrie L. (wife of John Limbrick, Esq.), Elma M. (wife of Daniel Heaton, Esq.), Jennie F., Andrew R., Rachel V., and Thomas O. and John A. (twins) ; the names of the deceased are Leander F. and William V. Mr. H. has held office of Justice of the Peace and was formerly Postmaster at Palermo ; he came to this State in 1860, and settled where he now resides ; has made all the improvements that are on the place. Mr. H.'s ancestors were Quakers ; his great- * grandfather on his mother's side came from England with William Penn, and was pres¬ ent when he made his famous treaty with the Indians ; Mr. H. taught school six years in Indiana previous to his coming to this State ; was raised a neighbor of the Hon. G. W. Julian ; Mrs. H. is related to Gov. Pickens, formerly of South Carolina. Mr. and Mrs. II. are both members of the Methodist Church; in politics he is Re¬ publican.

E. W. S. HEME, grain dealer, Hume; owns 300 acres of land ; was born in Boone Co., Ky., July 23, 1817; was raised a farmer. Married twice, first to Rachel W. Connelly in 1845, in the State of Ken¬ tucky ; she died Aug. 16, 1863. He was married to his present wife, Martha D. Hume (widow of the late Weeden Hume), Jan. 28, 1875 ; she was born in Greensburg, Ind., Jan. 28, 1842 ; have only one child (by second marriage) - Lou Olive. Mr. H. is the founder of this place, which bears his name ; the railroad station and village is located on what was once a por¬ tion of his farm ; he is quite largely en¬ gaged in the grain business ; is at present holding the office of Justice of the Peace, this being his third term ; is Postmaster

(the first appointed in the place). Mr. H.'s grandfathers, both on his father's and mother's side, were among the first settlers of Kentucky.

GEORGE W. KENDALL, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 1 ; P. O. Metcalf; owns 444 acres ; was born in Vermilion Co., this State, June 1, 1844. Mr. K. is the youngest son of the well-known pioneer, Mason Kendall, Esq. ; he resides on the old home farm ; is not married. Was a soldier during the latter part of the late war ; enlisted in the 43d I. V. I. in March 1865 ; went with the regiment to Little Rock, Ark., where he remained until the latter part of that year. Mr. K. feeds about 100 head of cattle and 60 head of hogs each year. The barn on Mr. K.'s farm is the oldest in the township, it being erected by his father in 1850. Mr. K., like his brother Henry, was reared in the stock business.

HENRY M. KENDALL, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 15; P. O. Metcalf; owns 560 acres; born near Dallas, in Vermilion Co., Ill., March 29, 1838 ; was brought up in the stock business ; when he was 8 years of age he first entered the saddle, and entered upon the duties of herdsman for his father, Mason Kendall, and since that time he has been constantly engaged in buying, selling and raising stock, viz., horses, cattle and hogs. In 1861, his father gave him 120 acres, where he now resides ; by his own exertions, he has in¬ creased his number of acres to 560, all ad¬ joining and situated in this township. Was married Jan. 3, 1867, to Jane Beard ; she was born in Vermilion Co. April 19, 1844; have three children - Frankie, born April 1 2, 1868 ; James B., born Dec. 19, 1869; George, born Dec. 10, 1876. Mr. K. had two brothers in the army during the late war - John T. and Andrew Jackson - both in Co. D, 25th I. V. I. ; John, the eldest, died in the hospital, at St. Louis, Mo., Dec. 10, 1861, of measles; Andrew was killed at the battle of Chickamauga, by a rifle-ball from the enemy, entering at the shoulder and passing out at the hip. He lived a few hours after receiving the fatal wound and then expired ; his remains were buried on the battle-field, near the place where he gave up his life. He was a very promising young man, possessed of good business talent, and remarkable for his physical and muscular development. John's remains were brought home and now lie in Lebanon Cemetery. He, also, is re¬ membered as a very promising young man. Mr. K's father is one of the oldest settlers of this county, his first trip to this county dating back to 1829. A historical sketch of him appears elsewhere in this volume.

LAX DON W. KILE, farmer and stockraiser, Sec. 13 ; P. 0. Palermo ; owns 200 acres ; was born in Clinton, Vigo Co., Ind., Dec. 5, 1850 ; is a son of the late Dr. William Kile, formerly of Paris ; came to this State with his parents when 5 years of age ; was raised in Paris, this county. Mr. K. was married Jan. 12, 1875, to Carrie Knight ; she was born in Philadelphia Oct. 16, 1853 ; have one child (named by its grandfather, Dr. K.), Charity. Mr. Iv. has been engaged in the stock business since he was a mere youth, with his father, who was, in connection with his medical practice, largely engaged in raising and dealing in stock. Mr. K. received his education at the normal school at Paris.

JOHN A. METCALFE, farmer; P. 0. Metcalf Station ; owns 320 acres ; was born in Shelby Co., Ky., July 23, 1811 ; cime with his parents to this State Oct. 6, 1828. Was married to Elizabeth Whiteley Sept. 12, 1833; she was born at Ft. Har¬ rison, Ind., March 30. 1816, and came here with her parents in 1818 ; had six children, only three of whom are now living - Henry S., Sarilda J., Sarah E.; the names of the deceased were William, George Milton and John Thomas. The latter served a full term in the army dur¬ ing the late war; he was on Gen. McMil¬ lan's staff nearly the entire time ; held rank of Captain. Mr. M. has held office of Postmaster, Deputy Sheriff and Con¬ stable. Mrs. M. is the oldest living settler in this township.

JONATHAN McCOWN, farmer and stock-raiser. Sec. 34 ; P. 0. Newman, Douglas Co.; owns 440 acres of land, 120 of which lie in Douglas Co.; was born in Nelson Co., Ky., Oct. 21, 1816 ; came to this county with his father, James Mc- Cown, when 15 years of age; his father died about two years after his arrival in the county, leaving 560 acres of land a short distance east of Paris ; here he re¬ mained until 1853, and then settled where he now resides. Mr. McC. was married

Dec. 21, 1843, to Olive T. Blackman, daughter of Ptemember Blackman, de¬ ceased; she was born Jan. 4, 1826, in what is now Hunter TP., this county ; have had seven children, only five of whom are now living - Charity E., Olive Ann, James B., Jira A., Judge Marshall, Har¬ rison Burr and Charles J.; Olive and Harrison are both dead ; the former died Oct. 19, 1855, at 11 years of age; the latter died Dec. 2, 1860, aged 14 months. Mr. McC. s father was born in Kentucky Nov. 14, 1781 ; his death occurred March 13, 1841 ; he came to this county in 1817 ; he, in company with John Stratton and on the North Arm, where their families all resided together for a time ; they pre¬ viously, and on their way to this county from from Kentucky, stopped and remained at Ft. Harrison for time ; they crossed the Wabash River on the ice, which broke up soon after ; Mr. McC., since his residence in this county, lias been largely engaged in stockraising ; formerly, he raised large quanti¬ ties of hogs ; but at present, his attention is devoted to raising and feeding cattle ; at the present time, he is feeding about 200 head of cattle ; he raised 5,000 bushels of corn last year, in addition to which he has purchased 10,000 bushels more this winter to feed out to stock on his farm ; Mr. McC.'s farm is three miles west of Hume Station ; the railroad runs through a por¬ tion of his farm, where a flag-station has been established.

PHINEAS MELOY, farmer, Sec. 27; P. O. Newman, Douglas Co.; owns eighty acres ; born in Warren Co., Ohio, Feb. 22, 1825; lived on a farm until 19 years of age ; he then learned the trade of carriage¬ making ; worked at that business ten years, at Lebanon, Ohio ; came to Edgar Co. in 1861 ; resided at Sugar Creek Point four years, and followed farming ; settled where he now resides in 1872. Mr. M. was married to Miss Lucretia Githens May 9, 1850 ; she was born in Warren Co., Ohio., April 20, 1829 ; have had eleven children, seven of whom are now living : their names are John E., Lewis L., Minnie M., Emmet, Bruce and Kittie ; the names of the de¬ ceased were George G., Elmer O., Edgar E., and an infant not named. Mr. and Mrs. M. are both members of the Presby¬ terian Church.

REV. JAMES ORR, farmer, Sec. 10; P. 0. Palermo; owns 120 acres; was born in Preston Co., Va., Jan. 1, 1809, emi¬ grated to Coles (now Douglas) Co. May 7, 1853 ; bought a piece of land there and remained on it four years ; then sold out, in 1857, and bought where he now resides and where he has resided ever since. Mr. 0. has been twice married, first to Margaret Fortney, June 5, 1834; she was a Virginian by birth ; her death occurred in 1842; had four children by that union - James A. (he was accidentally shot and killed, when in his 16th year, while out gunning), Louisa J., John D. and Margaret (deceased) ; his second marriage was with Mary A. Ross, Sept. 15, 1846 ; she was born in Greene Co., Penn., Oct. 18, 1825 ; have had six children by this union - Ab¬ ner Ross, Thomas J., Hiram E. (deceased), James W., Timothy W. (deceased) and Benjamin. Mr. 0. was ordained as a Baptist minister in Preston Co., Va., when about 33 years of age, and has preached with regularity ever since until about eighteen months ago. Mr. 0. has held office of Justice of the Peace one term, Assessor two terms. In politics he is a Democrat ; was formerly a Henry Clay Whig. Had one son in the army during the latter part of the late war ; he went from Mt. Ster¬ ling, Ill. Mr. Orr preached the second sermon ever preached in this township. * S. W. POPE, farmer, Sec. 27 ; P. O. Newman, Douglas Co.; owns 200 acres; born in Rock Castle Co., Ky., Feb. 2, 1822 ; was raised a farmer; resided with his parents until 25 years of age; in 1850, went to California by overland route ; re¬ mained there two years, and followed min¬ ing with good success, with the exception of eight months that he was disabled by sickness; returned to Kentucky in 1852, and came to this connty the same year; settled east of Paris, and resided there until 1864; then removed to and settled where he now resides ; during the interval of the two latter dates, he has made two trips to Kansas. Mr. P. was married to Margaret E. Bruce, daughter of James Bruce (deceased), Sept. 22, 1859; she was born in Edgar Co., Nov. 22, 1837 ; have two children - Bruce C. and William S. Mrs. P.'s father came to this State in an early day in company with James Car¬ ney (her uncle), who is still living and re¬

ASAPH ROGERS, farmer, Sec. 10 ; P. 0. Metcalf; owns 160 acres; born in Edgar Tp., this county, Oct. 19, 1838. Married Elizabeth Milner March 21, 1861 ; she was born in the same township Jan. 6, 1841 ; have seven children living - Allen E., Benjamin F., Viola, Emma E., Louisa Jane, Lola Belle and Mary L. Mr. R. has held office of School Director. His father, Elias Rogers, was one among the first settlers in the county ; he settled at Cherry Point in 1826, and built the first house in Edgar Tp.

GEORGE W. REED (deceased) ; P. 0. Metcalf; Mr. R. was a son of Daniel Reed (deceased), who settled, and built the first log house, in Hickory Grove at an early date (an account of which is given else¬ where). The subject of this sketch died Sept. 11, 1862, leaving a wife (now Mrs. Wm. Ross, of this township), and three children - Jackson Martin, born Nov. 11, 1848 (unmarried) ; Henry Lawrence, born April 18, 1851 ; married Mary E. Ross, Nov. 8, 1870; she was born May 17, 1854 ; George W., was born Dec. 1, 1853 ; married Asenath Ross, Oct. 4, 1877 ; she was born May 18, 1861. Mr. R., the subject of this sketch, left an estate at the time of his death of 240 acres ; his wife's maiden name was Mary A. Ritter; she was born Nov. 26, 1825. J. M., the oldest son, served one term as Supervisor, and has held office of School Director about ten years.

WTILLIAM ROSS, farmer, Sec. 9 ; P. 0. Palermo ; owns 330 acres ; was born in Butler Co., Ohio, Jan. 8, 1818 ; removed with his parents to Clinton Co., Ind., in 1828, where he remained until 1852 ; he then came to this county. Was twice married ; first to Asenath Crull, Dec. 7, 1841. She was born June 26, 1817 ; her death occurred in December, 1868; had ten children by this union - Rebecca, Henry, Rhoda, Lewis Cass, Elmira, Philetta (died in March 1876), Elizabeth, William, Mary E. (died when 2 years old) and Asenath. Mr. R.'s father was a soldier of the war of 1812 ; he emigrated to Indiana in an early day and settled near the reservation occupied by the Miami and Pottawatomie Indians ; his

R. has held nearly all the public offices in the town, from Supervisor down ; he helped raise the first log house that was erected on the prairie in this township, in 1852 ; the building still stands on the farm of Wm. Galway, Esq.

HENRY ROSS, merchant, Metcalf Station ; owns dwelling, store and two lots in village; was born in Clinton Co., Ind., Jan. 20, ) 844 ; came to this State with his father (Wm. Ross, Esq.) ; was raised a , farmer ; entered the mercantile business Dec. 15, 1875, in this place, which he con¬ tinued for two years ; then sold out to John B. Hildreth, Esq., who is now the sole proprietor; Mr. R., however, still remains in the establishment in the capaci¬ ty of business manager. Mr. R. was married May 29, 1870, to Martha M. Dains ; she was born in Washington Co., Penn., March 5, 1852 ; have had four children, three now living - Edgar, Henri¬ etta, Burton and Frankelena (deceased). Mr. R. keeps a general stock ; his sales j averaged about $6,000 per year the first two years; has held office of Town Trustee seven years, and School Director one year ; he also holds the office of Postmaster ; he spent one year (1869) in California.

ROBERT STRINGER, farmer, Sec. 11 ; r. O. Metcalf; has an interest in 120 acres ; was born in Washington Co., Penn., ; about the year 1840 ; emigrated to Hamil¬ ton Co., Ind., in 1854 ; remained there three years; then came to this county in 1857. Married Mary E. Kendall. She died Dec. 20, 1866 ; have three children - Van,

ROBERT A. SOMMERVILLE, far¬ mer and stock-raiser, Sec. 3 ; P. O. Metcalf Station ; owns 37S acres ; born in Mason Co., Ky., May 10, 1844; lived with his parents until 9 years of age, then went to reside with his uncle, Matthias Chrisman ; remained with him eight years ; then learned saddle and harness making ; con¬ tinued at that business about nine years. Married Parthena Hildreth, daughter of the late A. K. Hildreth (deceased), Jan. 17, 1871 ; she was born Feb. 22, 1848, in Vermilion Co., this State; have had four children, two of whom are now living - Bertha E., born Nov. 13, 1871, died Nov. 13, 1873 ; Robert A., born Aug. 26, 1873; an infant, born April 5, 1875, died one week after (no name) ; Mary Beatrice, born Jan. 15, 1878. Mr. S. cultivates about 120 acres of his land ; a portion of it he rents ; he ships each year to market about 150 head of live-stock ; this includes cattle, sheep and hogs.

M. T. SMITH, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 11 ; P. O. Indianola ; owns 315 acres ; was born in Wayne Co., Ind., Dec. 31,1839 ; remained there until his 21st year, during which time he assisted on the farm, and also learned the carpenter's trade ; came to this State in 1861 ; stopped at Dallas until 1864, during which time he worked at his trade. Married Luvisa Hildreth in 1864 ; she was born in Vermilion Co., Aug. 10, 1845; died Nov. 19, 1875; have four children - Edward Everett, Alvin K., Gertie May and Luvisa E. Mr. S.'s father was born Feb. 11, 1809 (the same day that Abraham Lincoln was born) ; he died in Wayne Co., Ind., July 10, 1849; his mother's name was Nancy Hicks; she was born in Stokes Co., N. C., Nov. 25, 1806 ; she resides with her son. Mr. S. feeds from twenty to fifty head of cattle each year.

DAVID W. SHAFFER, farmer, Sec. 1; P. O. Palermo; owns forty acres; born Dec. 18, 1819, in Donegal Tp., Lancaster Co., Penn., where he resided until he was 26 years old ; was raised a farmer and wagoner ; when 26 years of age, he com¬ menced driving stage on the Excelsior Line, across the Alleghany Mountains ; after two years' service as stage-driver, he was employed as agent on the canal during the summer seasons for eight years ; he superintended the transit of the boats which were hauled over the mountains on cars ; in 1856, he removed to Indiana, and, in 1860, to this State ; he settled where he now lives in 1867. Has been twice mar¬ ried ; first, to Susannah Shoop, March 13, 1853, in Armstrong Co., Penn. ; she died March 6, 1856 ; his second marriage was to Martha J. Boos, M^irch 30, 1859 ; she was born in Clark Co., Ind., Feb. 9, 1836. Mr. S. had one child by his first wife - Mary Jane; she resides in Pennsylvania; has one child by his present wife ; his name is John Allen. Mr. S. fired for the first locomotive that passed through the tunnel near Altoona, Penn.; he also hauled the first cars in Pittsburgh with horses. Mr. S. is a member of the Cumberland Pres¬ byterian Church.

JOHN A. SMITH, blacksmith, Met¬ calf Station ; owns house, shop and two lots in village ; was born in Ohio Co., Ind., Aug. 4, 1838 ; resided on a farm until 1854; served apprenticeship from that time until his 21st year, at blacksmithing ; he worked as a journeyman at that trade until 1870, during which time he was em¬ ployed about ten months in the celebrated plow manufactory of J ohn Deere, at Mo¬ line, Ill ; he then commenced business for himself in Ashmore, Coles Co., this State, . where he conducted business until 1874 ; in April, 1874, he commenced business where he now is. Mr. H. was married July 3, 1872, to Mary A. Kincaid; she was born in New Richmond, Ohio, July 29, 1843; have four children - Charles . D., Elizabeth, Leonard and Laura. Mr. S. worked at carriage-smithing principally, while learning his trade ; his knowledge of plow-work he acquired at John Deere's establishment; he is considered a very skillful blacksmith, and thoroughly under¬ stands its various branches ; he makes plow-work a specialty.

Benjamin D. Vanvactor

BENJAMIN D. VANVACTOR, farmer, Sec. 14; P. 0. Cherry Point; owns 160 acres; was born in Butler Co., Ohio Aug. 2, 1826; in 1833, he removed with his parents to Shelby Co., Ohio, where he was married to Elizabeth Ken¬ dall, Sept. 25, 1851 ; she was born Feb. 8, 1831; had eight children, seven of whom are now living - Sarah, Caroline, Elizabeth E., William, Ruth, Lucinda, Anna E., Melinda (deceased) and Lota. Mr. V. emigrated from Shelby Co., Ohio, to Indiana in 1859 ; remained there seven years, then removed to this State and set¬ tled where he now resides.

Montgomery Co., Ohio, Dec. 3, 1833 ; re¬ sided with his parents until 20 years of age ; at the age of 17 he removed with his parents to Edinburgh, Ohio ; served an apprenticeship at shoemaking, after' which he removed to Franklin, Ind. Married Priscilla Borry in 1852, near Edinburgh ; she was born in Pennsylvania Nov. 16, 1833 ; have had twelve children, eleven now living - Sarah E., Amos, John P., Daniel F., Mary E., George W., William (deceased), Lydia Jane, Matilda, Ellen, Charles J. and Samuel T. Mr. W. came to this State Oct. 10, 1874, and immedi¬ ately took charge of the farm of Messrs. S. Lofton and Marion Patison, containing 600 acres, and has been conducting it with success ever since. The present year, he has raised 175 acres of corn, feeds from sixty to seventy head of cattle each year, raises four or five horses each year ; also quite a number of hogs ; lost 126 hogs one year by disease. Mr. W. learned tile¬ making in 1852, and that year made the first tile ever made in the State of Indi-' ana. Amos, the eldest, is now a soldier iu the regular army ; has been serving under Gen. Miles th