Historical encyclopedia of Illinois, Part 160

Author: Bateman, Newton, 1822-1897. cn; Selby, Paul, 1825-1913; Gale, W. Shelden
Publication date: 1899
Publisher: Chicago : Munsell Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 1388


USA > Illinois > Knox County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois > Part 160
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USA > Illinois > Mercer County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois > Part 160
USA > Illinois > Kane County > Historical encyclopedia of Illinois > Part 160
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STROMBERG, NELS 0 .; Cabinetmaker; Galesburg; born July 28, 1829, in Sweden, where he was educated. His parents, Olof and Cary (Truedson) Nelson, came from Sweden, as did his paternal grandparents, Nels and Nilla (Swenson) Peterson. Mr. Stromberg was mar- ried to Bessey Matson, in Sweden, December 31, 1853; their eight children are: Peter, John, William, Arthur, Edwin, Celia, Bessy, and Mary. Mr. Stromberg is a republican. He is a member of the Lutheran Church.


SULLIVAN, DENNIS E .; Engineer; Gales- burg; born January 31, 1861, in County Cork, Ireland, where he was educated in the common schools. His parents were William and Brid- get Sullivan. He was married to Mary Mine- han, in Shenandoah, Iowa, January 22, 1887.


Mr. Sullivan came to America in 1868, and lived in South Boston till 1870, when he moved to Iowa, where he resided till 1886. He began work for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad in January, 1876; in 1879, became fireman, and was made an engineer in 1884. From 1887 to October, 1889, he worked for the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad and returned to the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy, where he is an engineer at the present time. In 1890, he moved to Galesburg, and in 1893, built his residence at 933 West Main street. He is a member of the Knights of Pythias. Mr. Sullivan is a member of the Catholic Church. In politics, he is a democrat.


SULLIVAN, E. J .; Conductor; Galesburg; born March 17, 1858, at Glens Falls, New York; educated in Galesburg. His parents were Owen and Mary (Moynahan) Sullivan, of Ireland. They came to this country when they were young, and were married at Glens Falls. His father was a railroad man, came to Galesburg in 1858, and was in the employ of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad until his death in 1876. At the age of fourteen years, E. J. Sullivan became a clerk in a clothing store in Galesburg, and when sixteen years old, entered the boiler shops of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad. At the age of twenty, he was a brakeman, and in 1881 was made a conductor, which position he still holds. He was married to Kittie Conley, of Galesburg, September 29, 1891. Their children are: Hen- rietta, Helen Marie, Josephine, and Eugene. Mrs. Sullivan's father, Mark Conley, born in Ireland, was a blacksmith, and an old resident of Galesburg; her mother, Anna (Gettings) Conley, came from Ireland to Galesburg when she was nineteen years of age. Mr. Sullivan is a member of the Order of Railway Conductors. In religion, he is a Catholic. He is a repub- lican.


SULLIVAN, JAMES EDWARD; Brakeman: Galesburg; born October 29, 1864, in Galesburg, Illinois, where he was educated. His parents, Patrick and Anna (Ready) Sullivan, were born in County Kerry, Ireland; his grandparents, Jerry and Mary (Moyhinan) Sullivan, were born in Ireland; his great-grandmother was Julia (Dean) Sullivan. Patrick Sullivan came to this country when a young man, and settled at Glens Falls, New York, where two of his children, Jerry and Mary, were born. He worked in a lime kiln. He came to Galesburg about 1857, and entered the employ of the Chi- cago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad Company, where he remained until his death, May 28, 1883. After his father's death, J. E. Sullivan purchased the homestead to which he has added other property. He entered the employ of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Rall- road Company in 1881, as an apprentice in the paint shop, and after six years he became a brakeman, which position he still holds. Mr. Sullivan is a member of the Catholic Church. In politics, he is a democrat.


SWAIN, P. H .; Conductor; Galesburg; born November 11, 1855, in Ottawa, Canada:


J. R. Willard


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educated in Illinois. His parents were William Swain, of Ireland, and Rose (Barnes) Swain, of Canada. He was married in October, 1877, at Chillicothe, Missouri, to Ellen, daughter of Thomas and Ellen Hickey, who are old resi- dents of Knox County. Mr. and Mrs. Swain have one child, Rosella. Mr. Swain came with his parents to Bureau County in 1857, and re- moved to Cherokee County, Kansas, in 1871. His father died in 1883; his mother is still liv- ing. Mr. Swain was a farmer and coal miner until 1874, when he came to Knox County and entered the employ of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad Company as brakeman. He became conductor in August, 1878. He has passed through three strikes, and is one of the reliable employes of the road. Mr. Swain is a Catholic. In politics, he is a democrat.


SWAIN, R. F .; Conductor; Galesburg; born July 28, 1851, in New York; educated in Bureau County, Illinois. His parents were William Swain, of Wicklow County, Ireland, and Rosa (Barnes) Swain, of Toronto, Canada. They moved to Canada when R. F. was a year old; they moved to La Salle County, and came to Bureau County in 1857. In 1868, they went to Cherokee County, Kansas, where his mother now lives. His father died May 27, 1883. Mr. R. F. Swain was married October 14, 1880, at Galesburg, Illinois, to Kate, daughter of Alfred and Elizabeth Emerson, who were early settlers in Knox County. They have two children, Eulalia F., and Will- iam A. In 1873, Mr. R. F. Swain returned to Illinois, and located in Galesburg, and in 1874, entered the employ of the Chicago, Bur- lington and Quincy Railroad Company as brakeman. He became conductor in 1876, which position he holds at the present time. He has passed through several strikes, one of which was the "Q" strike, but has never had an ac- cident. Mr. Swain is a republican.


SWANSON, PETER F .; Contractor and Builder; Galesburg; born in 1866, in Sweden, where he was educated. After coming to Gales- burg he worked on a farm for four years, and then worked as carpenter till 1894; he then en- tered upon the business of contractor and builder, which he still follows. In the mean- time, he took a course in the Galesburg Busi- ness College. Mr. Swanson was married to Anna Neilon November 27, 1895. They have a handsome home on Whitesboro street.


SWEENEY, MICHAEL J .; Engineer; Gales- burg; born November 20, 1856, in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania; his father, Michael Sweeney, was born in Ireland. He was educated in the common schools. In politics, he is a democrat. He married, in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania, November 20, 1884, Mary A., daughter of Patrick Carroll, who came from Ireland to Pennsylvania. Mr. Sweeney was employed by the Reading Railroad in 1874, and came to Galesburg in 1888, where he entered the service of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad. In 1892, he built a residence at 461 West Brooks street, Galesburg, where he


now resides. He is a member of the Catholic Church.


SWIGERT, HARRY 1 .; Dentist; Galesburg; born July 1, 1871, in Knox County, Illinois, where he was educated. His parents are I. W. and Lucinda (Turney) Swigert, of Ohio; his paternal grandparents were George and Catharine (Brewer) Swigert, of Franklin County, Pennsylvania; his maternal grand- father was Philip Turney. Dr. Swigert's par- ents were early settlers in Knox County, and lived on a farm till 1887, when they came to Galesburg, where they now reside. Dr. H. I. Swigert, after graduating in the Galesburg High School and Knox College, took a full course in the Northwestern University Dental School, Chicago. He is practicing dentistry in the Holmes Building, Galesburg, Illinois. In religion, Dr. Swigert is a Presbyterian. He is a republican.


TAIT, WILLIAM F .; Physician and Surgeon; Galesburg; born June 21, 1836, in Scotland; educated in Illinois. His parents, William and Mary Ann (McDowell) Tait, were born in Scot- land. His grandfather and great-grandfather, on the paternal side, were named John. His maternal grandfather was John McDowell. Mr. Tait has been twice married: June 21, 1866, to Rhoda A. Speny at Camden, New York, and December 25, 1896, to Ardath G. Copley at Wal- nut, Iowa. By the first marriage, there were three children, Cora L., Mary E., and Margaret S. Dr. Tait's literary education was obtained in public schools, Knox and Monmouth col- leges; he graduated from Lee Centre High School in 1859. He received his medical educa- tion in Cincinnati, Ohio. He is Pension Exam- ining Surgeon. In religion, he is a Presby- terian. He is a republican.


TAYLOR, JAMES E .; Implement Dealer; Galesburg; born in Portland, Maine, April 5, 1859; educated in Oneida and Galesburg. On the paternal side, his grandfather, James Tay- lor, was born in Scotland; his grandmother was Lydia Wiles. His father, L. R. Taylor, was born in Norridgewock, Maine, and his mother, Grace E. (Carter), was born in Port- land. On the maternal side, his grandfather, Thomas Carter, was born in England, as was also his grandmother. December 19, 1893, Mr. Taylor was married, in Oneida, Illinois, to Maud Conger. They have one son, James Ed- win. Mr. Taylor lived near Oneida, Illinois, until 1895, and since then in Galesburg. While living in Oneida, he was engaged in farming. He is a member of the Congregational Church. In politics, he is a republican.


TREADWELL, GUTHRIE; Engineer; Gales- burg; horn June 18, 1851, at St. Andrews, Canada, where he was educated, and where he was married to Maggie Maloney, October 27, 1875. They have seven children, George Emer- son; Mary Elizabeth, deceased; Kate and Maude, twins; Kate, deceased; Nathan Guthrie; Anna Drew; and Gertrude. Mr. Treadwell's father, Nathan N., was born in St. Andrews, New Brunswick, and his mother, Elizabeth (Miller), was born in St. Andrews, Scotland;


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KNOX COUNTY.


his paternal grandfather, Reuben Treadwell, was born in Newport, Rhode Island; his pater- nal grandmother, Alpha Peck, was born in Eastport, Maine; his maternal grandfather, George Miller, married Anna Guthrie, who was born in St. Andrews, Scotland. Mr. Treadwell began work on the New Brunswick and Canada Railroad in 1867, and continued in its employ for fifteen years. He afterwards entered the service of the New Brunswick Railroad, in Canada, where he remained for five years. He then moved to Boston, and soon after to Bur- lington, Iowa. In 1888, Mr. Treadwell began service as a locomotive engineer on the Chi- cago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad, which position he still holds. He went through the strike on the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy, and has long been one of the trusted engineers of the company. In religion, Mr. Treadwell is an Episcopalian. He is a republican.


TURNER, HARRY; Conductor; Galesburg; born July 15, 1856, in Philadelphia, Pennsyl- vania, where he was educated. His parents were William and Emma (Haigh) Turner, of Sheffield, England. Harry Turner was married to Frances Rund January 1, 1883; at Prince- ton, Illinois. They have seven children: Harry George; Clarence, deceased; Octave, deceased; Lester: Grace A .; Gladys; and Gertrude. His grandfather was John Turner, of England. Mr. Turner's father learned the trade of pocket- knife grinding in the Rodgers' Cutlery Works at Sheffield, England. He came to this country in middle life, and worked at his trade in Phila- delphia, Pennsylvania. Mr. Harry Turner he- gan work in a sash and door factory in Phila- delphia, at three dollars a week, and went to night school two hours each evening. At the age of twenty, he came to Princeton, Illinois, and began work for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad Company, where he has since been employed. In 1883, he began as brakeman, in Galesburg, and has been con- ductor for a number of years. He was a dele- gate to the Brotherhood of Railroad Trainmen Convention at Los Angeles in 1890. Mr. Tur- ner's parents, and his sons, Clarence and Oc- tave, are buried in Linwood Cemetery. Mr. Turner has a pleasant home on Lincoln avenue. He is a republican


ULRICH, GEORGE W .; Engineer; Gales- burg; born January 12, 1850, in Reading, Penn- sylvania, where he received his education in the common schools. He married Margaret Sharp, at Pottsville, Pennsylvania, July 4, 1872: they have three children, Charles, Maggie, and Anna. Mrs. Ulrich is a member of the Method- ist Church. Mr. Ulrich, at the age of seventeen, entered the service of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad. In 1881, he came to Gales- burg and was employed by the Chicago, Bur- lington and Quincy Railroad as engineer, a position which he now holds. Mr. Ulrich is a republican.


VINCENT, CLARENCE A .; Minister; Gales- burg; born in Geauga County, Ohio, December 17, 1859. After leaving the common schools he graduated from the Oberlin Preparatory


School in 1880, and from Oberlin College in 1884, receiving the degree of B. A. In 1888, he received the degree of B. D. from Oberlin The- ological Seminary. During his seminary course he spent one year in post-graduate work in Yale Divinity School. He was pastor of the First Free Baptist Church, of Buffalo, New York, from 1888 to 1892; National Secretary of the Free Baptist Missionary and Educational societies during the years 1889 to 1893; pastor of the First Congregational Church, of San- dusky, Ohio, from December, 1890, to October. 1898. and is now pastor of the Central Congre- gational Church, Galesburg. His father, Augustus R., and his mother, Lurancy A., were residents of Ohio; his father was a farmer. Dr. Vincent was married in 1888 to Lucy Hall, a student of Oberlin College. There are four children, Hope, Ruth, Helen, and Clarence Hall. In 1898, Mr. Vincent was given the degree of Doctor of Divinity by Hillsdale College, Mich- igan. He is the author of two books that have had wide circulation: "Acts of Modern Apos- tles," and "Providence in America." While a pastor at Buffalo, he was elected President of the Baptist State Association; and in Ohio, he was President of the Congregational State As- sociation. He has heen honored many times in being chosen to preach the annual sermon at the State and National meetings of the Baptist, Congregational, and Christian Endeavor socie- ties.


WAGGONER, MORTIMER O .; Conductor; Galesburg; born in Dexter, Michigan, August 24, 1853; educated in Michigan, and in Toledo, Ohio. His parents were Edward E. Waggoner of Michigan, and Mary J. (Palmer) Waggoner of New York. His maternal grandfather was B. M. Palmer, and his grandmother's maiden name was Griffin, of New He York. was married to Jennie Fitzsimmons, Febru- ary 13, 1876, at Monmouth, Illinois. Their children are: Rose M., Edward James, Lula Mertle, Bernice J., and Bernard M. Mr. Wag- goner's parents were married in Michigan, and reared a family of six children. During the War of the Rebellion, the father enlisted, and died of fever, in 1865, at his post on the receiv- ing ship Great Western. After attending school for three years in Toledo, Ohio, Mr. M. O. Wag- goner returned to Michigan, and in 1871 came to Galesburg. In 1872, he entered the employ of the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad Company as brakeman. He has been conductor for twenty-four years. In politics, Mr. Wag- goner is liberal and independent. He is a Methodist.


WALBERG, JOHN A .; Grocer; Galesburg; born April 24, 1848, in Sweden, where he was educated. His parents were J. M. and Maria C. (Jacobson) Jonsson. Mr. Walberg was mar- ried to Susanna C. Munson at Galesburg, March 8, 1873. There were four children, Alma C., de- ceased; Robert J .; Mabel M .; and Laura A., deceased. Mr. Walberg has been a grocer in Galesburg for eighteen years. He is a Method- ist. In politics, he is a republican, and has been Alderman of the Third Ward for two terms.


Mellemunion


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KNOX COUNTY.


WASHINGTON, JOHN HENRY; Engineer; Galesburg; born at Washington, Mason County, Kentucky, March 8, 1847. His father was John Washington, and his mother was Loulsa Nel- son, both natives of Kentucky. Mr. Washing- ton was educated in Ohio. He was married to Mary F. Smith, November 25, 1869, at Gales- burg. They have two children, John William, and Hattie E. Mr. Washington lived in Ken- tucky until 1863, when he removed to Clinton, Ohio. He made three attempts to enlist in the Union Army, but failed on account of his age. He came to Galesburg in 1868, and soon en- tered the employ of Dr. J. V. N. Standish, with whom he remained for seven years, a sufficient proof of his efficiency. For twenty-one years, he has been employed by the Republican Reg- ister in the capacity of engineer. He is, also, a good pressman, and is a member of the Press- men's Union of Peoria. Mr. Washington is re- garded as one of the leading colored men of Galesburg, and is highly esteemed by all with whom he has sustained business relations. He is a member of the African Methodist Church, and for ten years he was one of its Board of Trustees. He is a class-leader, and has been Superintendent of the Sunday school. He is s member of the Colored Masonic Lodge, No. 10, and has for the last three years, been its Wor- shipful Master. He is Past Noble Father of the Little Bee Lodge, I. O. of O. F. In politics, Mr. Washington is a republican, and has recently been chosen one of the Board of Supervisors.


WEIDENHAMER, JAMES HENRY; Engi- neer; Galesburg; born March 12, 1860, in Schuy- ler County, Illinois. His parents were John Jacob and Elizabeth (Glenn) Weidenhamer, of Pennsylvania and Tennessee respectively; his grandparents were John Weidenhamer of Penn- sylvania, and Elizabeth M. (Lindemyer) Weid- enhamer of Germany. He was married in Galesburg, October 6, 1881, to Mary Etta, daugh- ter of Jesse Stout of Ohio, and Caroline (Tsy- lor) Stout, of Pennsylvania. They have three children, Jesse Roy; Bessie Belle, deceased; and Freddie Glenn. Mr. Weidenhamer's grand- father was a farmer, and moved from Pennsyl- vania to Quincy, Illinois, at an early day. He endured many hardships, not the least of which was the dreadful scourge of cholera. He died at the age of thirty years. His family was sup- ported by his son, the father of James H., who, upon his marriage, settled in Schuyler County. After removals to Murray, Keokuk Junction. and Osceola, Iowa, he came to Galesburg in 1878, and retired from business. Nine of his thirteen children are living; John and William are rail- way conductors; James Henry and Charles are locomotive engineers; Fred D. is Chief Train Dispatcher at Lincoln, Nebraska, and Albert E. is a yardmaster at Kansas City. James H. be- gan work on his father's farm in Schuyler County, then went to Fowler and continued farming for two years. In March, 1878, he went to Cherokee, Kansas, expecting to obtain a position on the Memphis, Kansas and Colo- rado Railroad, but was disappointed. He sold his prospects and in August, 1878, came to


Galesburg, where he engaged as brakeman on the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy. He be- came conductor in 1883, and engineer in Sep- tember, 1888. He now runs on the "Kate" flyer between Galesburg and Quincy. Mr. Welden- hamer is independent in politics.


WEST, AMY ROOKS; Galesburg; born Sep- tember 4, 1818, at Semprontus, New York; educated in the common schools. She was married to John Gibbs West December 29, 1836, at East Java, New York. Of this union six children grew to manhood: Charles, Lyman, Homer, Ira, Nehemiah, and Willard. John G. West, son of John and Sallie (Woodcock) West, was born January 21, 1812. He came to Gales- burg in 1836, with the first settlers, and died June 9, 1886. In religion, Mrs. West is a Con- gregationalist.


WHEELER, HARRY EDMUND; Mechanical Engineer; Galesburg; born December 29, 1863, in Monmouth, Illinois; educated at the Inter- national Correspondent's School at Scranton, Pennsylvania. His parents were Elisha E. and Celestia (Hale) Wheeler. Mr. Wheeler was married in Galesburg, in April, 1892, to Angie Corine Cummins. Their children are: Hazel, Blanch, and Erminie. Mr. Wheeler is now chief engineer of the city waterworks.


WILLSIE. ALFRED N .; Engineer; Gales- burg; born April 24, 1864; educated in the com- mon schools. His parents were H. H. Willsie, of Canada, and Betsy (Nichols) Willsie, of New York. He was married in Galesburg, Novem- ber 21, 1885, to Mata B. F. Baker. Mr. Willsie began work for the Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad Company in 1880, as errand boy in the master mechanic's office. He was promoted to the position of foreman in 1890, and engineer in 1892. January 1, 1899, he was made traveling fireman. He is a member of the I. O. O. F., No. 487, and also of the Forresters. Mr. Willsie is a republican, and keenly in- terested in political affairs.


(WISWELL, WYRUM? President of the Gales- burg Brick and Terra Cotta Company; Gales- burg; born February 1, 1825, in Vermont; educated in Vermont and Illinois. His parents were John and Ada (Wilard) Wiswell, of Ver - mont, the latter of Wardsborough; his pater- nal grandparents, Samuel and Saloma (Osks) Wiswell, and his maternal grandparents, Oliver and Asneth Wilard, were of Massachusetts. Mr. Wiswell was married November 18, 1851, at Berwick, Warren County, Illinois, to Martha Sheldon. She was born February 16, 1833, in Oneida County, New York. Their children are: Sarah Sophronia, Lsurette Wilard, and Augusta Gates. Mr. Wiswell Is a member of the Baptist Church. He is a republican.


YOUNG, NELS S .; Galesburg; born 1841 in Sweden; came to Galesburg in 1864. He is a mason by trade, snd worked for T. E. Smith for twenty years. In 1886, he entered upon the business of contracting mason. He owns a val- uable farm in Knox County, and has a hand- some residence on Kellogg street, Galesburg. In 1876, Mr. Young was married to Hannah Akeyson; they have two children, Samuel and Anna.


Part III.


TOWNS AND TOWNSHIPS.


A town is a political, a township a physical, division. They are often confounded, and in deference to popular custom townships have been, in some instances, referred to as towns in this history. Townships are squares of land, each containing thirty-six sections, laid off by United States surveyors for convenience in describing land. So far as this governmental survey is concerned, they have no names, and are designated only by their distance from principal meridians and base lines. Towns, on the contrary, have come to us from the political system of New England. They are units of government. Whenever a county adopts township (really town) organization three commissioners are ap- pointed to lay out the towns. Then the voters in each town meet and choose a town name. Therefore, in naming their towns the voters simply named the townships in which they lived. Thus Indian Point town exactly coin- cides with Township 9 North, Range 1 East. Yet it is absolutely incorrect ever to speak of Indian Point township, or of town 9 North, Range 1 East.


Knox County contains twenty townships, and for some years had the same number of towns. But, owing to the division of Galesburg into the town and city of that name, it now has twenty-one.


RIO TOWNSHIP. By E. H. Goldsmith.


This portion of Knox County is situated in the extreme northwest corner, the greater part of it consisting of good farming land, being


well drained by Pope Creek, which flows through the northern tier of sections, and va- rious branches of Henderson River. About one- fourth of the township was originally com- posed of timbered land, that bordering on Pope Creek being rather poor in quality, while, on the contrary, the timber along Henderson River was excellent. Coal has been mined to a lim- ited extent in this locality. Stock-raising was formerly the principal agricultural pursuit, but of late years that industry has been superseded by the raising of grain, there being at present 19,800 acres of improved land, much of which has been increased in value by tilling.


From all available records it would appear that Joseph Rowe was the first white man to settle in the township, his arrival being closely followed by Reece Jones and Joseph Halliday, while John Cresswell came to Section 27 in 1832. A stockade, the erection of which was made necessary by the Black Hawk War, was, in honor of Mrs. Cresswell, called "Fort Aggie." John R. Woolley located a claim here in 1832, and Samuel Brown arrived in 1834. The latter states that very little land was under cultiva- tion at that time. The following pioneers set- tled in the township in 1836: Isaac M. Wet- more; John F. Wikoff, who journeyed from Ohio on horseback and erected a cabin in the woods west of the present homestead; George W. Weir; Elsia Robertson, who once saw a drove of more than fifty deer in this vicinity; Larkin Robertson; Nelson and Lewis Coe; Sam- uel Melton; and P. W. Epperson. Luther Fitch came in 1840, Eber Moor and John L. Bloom- field arrived in 1845, and the Maxwell family


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KNOX COUNTY.


were also early settlers. John B. Edar first lo- cated in Knox County in 1832, removing to Rio in 1867. Alexander Heflin was born in Rio, and Mrs. Heflin's grandfather, John McMurtry, participated in the Black Hawk War. Among the pioneer business men were the Robson brothers, who were engaged extensively in cattle raising. Their sales averaged $400,000 annually for seven years.


April 5, 1835, witnessed the birth in the township of the first white child, Thomas Marion Goff. On December 29, 1836, was cele- brated the first marriage, that of Allen S. Brown and Mary (Polly) McMurtry, the lat- ter of whom still survives. The first death was that of Mrs. Mary Williamson McMurtry.




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