USA > Illinois > McHenry County > History of McHenry County, Illinois : together with sketches of its cities, villages and towns : educational, religious, civil, military, and political history : portraits of prominent persons, and biographies of representative citizens, also a condensed History of Illinois > Part 37
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located in Algonquin Township, McHenry County, where he has since resided. He was married March 3, 1831, to Naomi, daugh- ter of William and Ose Garrison, natives of New Jersey. They have six children-Edward, born April 7, 1832, is a physician of Cape May, N. J. He married Jennie Spinning who died and left one child-Russell'F. In September, 1868, he married Anna Hughes, by whom he has four children-Walter H., Edward, Albert and Willet. Willet, born June 11, 1843, was married Dec. 24, 1862, to Melinda Balch, and has two children-Nettie E., born Dec. 14,1863; Fred E., born May 14, 1869. Harriet, born M rch 20, 1836, was drowned when a child. Maria, born July 1, 1839, married Isaac Griswold and died Nov. 28, 1877, leaving six children. Emma, born Feb. 19, 1844, married William Sorter and has one child --- Robert G. Howard, born June 26, 1846, married Frilla Adams, and has two children-Robert K., born Sept. 6, 1870, and Walter L., born Sept. 6, 1874. Politically Mr. Phillips is a Republican. Mrs. Phillips's great-grandmother, Elizabetli Douglas, was the daughter of Lord Douglas, of Edinburgh, Scotland. She ran away from home to get married, but not meeting her betrothed was sold in America for her passage. She was bought by Lewis Fort- ner and after serving her time was married to his son, Benjamin Fortner. Mrs. Phillips's mother died in 1814 and her father in 1833. They had a family of five children-John R. P .; Ura, wife of Walter Kellman; Abigail, wife of John Sorter; Sarah, wife of Spencer S. Weart; and Naomi.
James Fhilp was born in Cornwall, England, Oct. 28, 1828, a son of John and Philippa (Hooper) Philp, natives of England. His father was born May 2, 1797, and died Nov. 10, 1876. His mother was born Sept. 9, 1799, and died May 11, 1879. His great- grandparents, John and Susannah Philp, were farmers of Pemrose, Parish of St. Bernard. They had a family of four children-John, Richard, Hugh and Robert. The latter was born in 1773, and died in 1848. He had two children-Ann, wife of William May, and John, the father of James. The maternal great-grandfather of Mr. Philp was John Hooper. His grandfather, James Hooper, was a native of St. Tudy, and one of the wealthiest men of the place. He had a large family, one of whom was Philippa, mother of our subject. John and Philippa Philp had a family of three children-James; Elizabeth, who died in England in 1850, aged eighteen years, and Robert now of Nunda, Ill. James Philp spent his boyhood in his native town. When twelve years of age
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he began to learn the shoemaker's trade of his father and worked at it four years. When sixteen years of age he wanted to go to sea but his parents objected; he then learned the blacksmith's trade and worked at it till 1851. when he came to America. He em- barked in August and after a voyage of forty-eight days landed in Quebec, Oct. 1. From there went to Toronto and thence to Al- gonquin, reaching this place Oct. 12, where he remained till the next spring, when he went to Chicago and worked a short time for H. A. Pitts. Inducements were offered him to settle in Algon- quin which he accepted, and carried on a carriage manufactory twenty years. Since then he has dealt extensively in real estate, buying and selling for himself and on commission for others. In 1883 he handled $50,000 worth of property. He has been associ- ated with the Algonquin Fire Insurance Company since its organ- ization. He has been Justice of the Peace sixteen years and School Director and Trustee several years. July 12, 1849, he was married to Jane, daughter of James and Ann Cornelius, of Eng- land. They have had six children-Elizabeth, wife of Edward Chapel; Volney, of Canton, Kas; Jennie, died in 1874, aged twenty years; James H., of the firm Wenholtz & Philp; Thomas and An- nie. Politically Mr. Philp is a Republican.
Ephriam Seymour was born in New York in 1815, a son of John and Elizabetlı (Wright) Seymour. He was married to Mary, daughter of Joseph and Ruth (Wright) Patterson, in Tyrone, Steu- ben Connty, New York, on the 6th of April, 1836. He came to Illinois in 1841, and stopped at Miller's Grove, Cook County, where he remained six months. He then came to McHenry County and located on Crystal Lake Prairie, on the farm now occupied by his son Joseph. He has a fine farm of 167 acres which is well improved. He is one of the oldest citizens of the county, and an honest and influential man in the community in which he lives. They have had eight children-Huldah, wife of Giles Seward; Henry (deceased); Martlia E, wife of Judson Snookc; Joseph; Alice, wife of Henry Edick; John; Ephriam H., married Rhoda M. Arvedson; Mary E., wife of Harvey Peacock.
Robert Shufeldt was born in Albany County, N. Y., in 1839, a son of Harmon and Marietta (Jones) Shufeldt. His father died in 1871; his mother lives in Barrington, Cook Co., Ill. They had a family of nine children-Amelia died March 10, 1866, aged fifteen years; Theodore enlisted in the Fifty-second Illinois In- fantry, and died at Memphis, Tenn., from the effects of measles
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March 9, 1864, aged nineteen years; Marietta married Albert Meade, of Saline County, Neb .; Henry married Martha Long, lives in Stanley, Kas. ; Hiram, now of Saline County, Neb., married Margaret Love; George and Lester live in Mound City, Mo .; Charles and Emma live in Barrington, Ill .; Robert is the only one residing in McHenry County. He was married March 6, 1861, to Excy, daughter of Henry and Dollie (Edwards) Claw- son. They have six children-Ellen, born Jan. 26, 1863; Herbert, Nov. 22, 1864; Flora, May 19, 1866; George, Feb. 15, 1868; Robert F., Oct. 8, 1869, and Frederick, March 27, 1871. Mr. Shu- feldt's parents came to Illinois in 1854, but soon after moved to Butler County, Kas., where the father died. In 1872 Robert Shufeldt came to McHenry County, and settled on the farm where he now lives. He owns a fine farm of 260 acres and carries on a dairy of forty cows.
R. R. Sherwood was born in New York in 1799, a son of Zeddick and Abigail Sherwood, natives of New York. His father was a teamster in the Revolutionary war. In later life he moved to Illinois, where he died July 6, 1859, within two months of 100 years old. R. R. Sherwood was a farmer, and while in New York was Superintendent of the Geneva Canal. He came to Illinois in 1844 and died in McHenry County, June 18, 1884. He married Polly Brunson, of Amsterdam, N. Y., and to them were born six children-Granville, born in 1824, came to Illinois with his father, but subsequently went to Galveston, Texas; Anson, now of Detroit, Mich .; James A., born April 23, 1830; Harriet, wife of Jorten Forbes, of Michigan; N. B., a veteran of the Rebellion, enlisted as private in Company H, Thirty-sixth Illinois Infantry, and was promoted to First Lieutenant. He received a wound at Stone River which eventually caused his death. He died in Feb- rnary, 1882, leaving a wife and one child. David B. is an attor- ney of Elgin. Mr. and Mrs. Sherwood reared an adopted son. James A. Sherwood came with his father to Illinois and remained in Algonquin a year. He then went West, and after reaching manhood began auctioneering. He is now one of the best auc- tioneers in the State. In January, 1859, he was married to Esther, daughter of Joseph and Lucy Grant, of Michigan. Politically he was a Democrat, as was also his father. He is a member of the Masonic fraternity.
S. M. Thomas was born in Genesee County, N. Y., April 25, 1817, a son of Abiah and Polly Thomas, natives of Vermont, of
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Welsh and Scotch descent. In the spring of 1835 he came West and worked on a farm near Algonquin three years. He then carried on a hotel at Algonquin a short time, and subsequently engaged in farming till 1872, when he retired to a more quiet life. He was married in 1842 to Almira, daughter of Joshua and Mary French. They have three children-Albert, engineer at Danville, Ill .; Mamie, and Lemuel, conductor on the Chicago & North western Railroad. . Politically Mr. Thomas is a Republican.
W. P. Thompson is a native of Louisiana, born in 1842, a son of William and Katie (Bristol) Thompson. His mother died in Louisiana. His father removed to Chicago, and was drowned in the Chicago River, in 1849. He was a contractor, and built the first packing house in that city for Huff & Co. W. P. Thompson has been a resident of McHenry County since 1880. He bought that year the farm of Mrs. Allen, which contains 240 acres of good land. Some of the best springs in the county are on this farm; one, near the house, furnishes an abundant supply of water for all their needs. Mr. Thompson carries on a large creamery, making 12,000 pounds of butter per year, which commands the highest market price in New York City. He has a herd of seventy cows, of the best grades. He owned a large flouring mill five stories high, situated on Rock River, Dixon, Ill., whic was
totally destroyed by fire in 1880. It had a capacity of grinding from 250 to 300 barrels per day. The wheat was obtained from Dakota and Southern Illinois and the flour found a ready market in all parts of the world, the majority of it being shipped to Scot- land and London. Mr. Thompson enlisted in 1861, and served till the close of the war. For two years he kept the Government books, remaining at his post at a time when 275 were dying of yellow fever in a day. His brother, James E. Thompson, served during the war, under the command of Major Cheney, and par- ticipated in the battles of Island No. 10, Vicksburg, Shiloh, Atlanta and others. At Atlanta he was called on to dislodge a rebel battery, and was awarded a gold medal by General Sherman for his bravery. In 1871 W. P. Thompson was married to Aurora, daughter of Henry and Almina (Moon) Coe. They have three children-Nora A., Edward H. and William C.
Thomas Whittaker was born in Canada in 1818, a son of Samuel and Jane (Blythe) Whittaker, who were of English descent. In 1824 his parents moved to New York City where his mother died
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in 1827. His father died in 1859. He served an apprenticeship at the brass founder's trade and in 1843 opened a foundry on Church and Reed streets, New York, remaining in business till 1849, when he came to Illinois and settled on the farm where he now lives. He owns 120 acres of fine land, and runs a dairy of twenty cows. Mr. Whittaker has been School Director twenty-five years. In his political views he is Independent.
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CHAPTER XV.
BURTON TOWNSHIP.
THE SMALLEST TOWN IN THE COUNTY .- EARLY SETTLEMENT. -- EVENTS OF PIONEER LIFE. - A YANKEE SETTLER AMONG ENGLISH- MEN .- EARLY SCHOOLS, POSTOFFICES, MEETINGS, ETC .- FIRST TOWNSHIP ELECTION. - CHANGING THE NAME OF THE TOWN .-- SPRING GROVE .- CHURCHES .- BIOGRAPHICAL.
Burton is the smallest town in the county, consisting of but one-third of congressional township 46, range 9. The township is drained by Nippersink Creek, and contains good farms and im- provements.
Burton is one of the oldest settled towns in the county. It was settled by Englishmen, and the name English Prairie was bestowed upon the land and is still retained.
The first settler was Jonathan Imeson. He came from Eng- land and settled on section 18, in this township, in 1836, and still resides here. He is now seventy-five years old.
Other early settlers coming within a year or two were Richard Wray, sections 17,18; Stephen Lawson, section 18; Robert Richardson, section 18; Martin Hoffman, Wm. Fowles, Richard Upston, Joseph Rice, John A. Mann, and Joseph Blivin, all on section 30.
The English settlers after their arrival staked out their claims and then went on further west thinking to find more eligible lands. But not succeeding in this, they returned to their first choice only to find that a Yankee named John Sanborn had arrived and was occupying their claims. They asked him to quit. He would not. Words were multiplied, but with this result: Sanborn stayed and the Englishmen stayed. The Eng- lish felt that an intruder was among them. One day when Sanborn was mowing a dozen or more of his neighbors came to him and ordered him to leave; he turned upon them with his scythe and drove the whole crowd. In the excitement Sanborn lost his hat. One of his visitors found it and kept it. Sanborn (418)
Lewis Match
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went bareheaded for several months until he could find time to go to town and purchase another. There was for a long time an unfriendly feeling against any but Englishmen living upon the English Prairie; but John Sanborn completed his days in the spot he had cliosen for his home.
The first marriage in the township took place Nov. 30, 1837. Jonathan Imeson and Mary Wray were united in marriage by Rev. Joel Wheeler. Their son, Robert T. Imeson, was the first child born in the township.
The first death was that of Mrs. Frank Richardson, in the fall of 1837.
The first religious services were held at Jonathan Imeson's house in 1843. The preacher was from Kenosha, then called Southport. The town now contains two churches, Methodist and Episcopal. The cemeteries are as follows: Spring Grove, English Prairie, Stevens's, Cole's, Sanborn's and Wray's. The last two are private burying grounds.
Soon after the settlement began, a log school-house was built on the Nippersink Creek and William Stearns taught a school of fif- teen scholars.
The red school-house on section 8 was built in 1846. In it the first term of school was taught in 1846 by Miss Case. The house was built and the teacher paid with money raised by subscription. The town now contains two and one-half schools. One house is located on the line between Burton and Richmond. The value of school property is $4,000; the number of school children, seventy.
The first postoffice was called Blivin's Mills. It was established in 1851 with Joseph Rice as Postmaster. Rice held the office during his life-time; R. J. Osmann succeeded; then Mrs. Rice, widow of Joseph Rice; then Robert Tweed, the present Postmas- ter, in 1865. The name of the office was changed from Blivin's Mills to Spring Grove, Jan. 24, 1883. English Prairie postoffice was established about 1854. The Postmasters have been Gideon B. Cooley, Harvey Wilson and C. Mead.
The first township election was held April 2, 1850. Darius Kingsley was Moderator and Nehemiah H. Austin, Clerk. The following officers were chosen: Sylvanus S. Stilson, Supervisor; Gideon Cooley, Clerk; Chauncy Sweet, Justice of the Peace; Harvey Wilson, Justice of the Peace; J. B. Plumstead, Assessor; Augustus Bradway, Collector; John E. Mann, Constable; Joseph E. Parks, Constable; Miles Cole, Overseer of the Poor; Alfred
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Stevens, Wm. Buell and Darius Kingsley, Commissioners of Highways; Roadmasters, Wm. Buell, District No. 1; John Sanborn, District No. 2; Augustus W. Bradway, District No. 3; Jacob Jackson, District No. 4. At this first meeting it was voted that the name of the town, Benton, be changed to Nipper- sink. This vote seems to have been totally disregarded there- after.
The town was first named Benton by Jackson Wray. It was afterward found that there was another town in the State by that name, therefore the name was changed to Burton, apparently by mutual consent-at least there appears no official record of the change.
The town officers for the present year (1884-'5) are as follows: Fred Hatch, Supervisor; Robert Tweed, Jr., Clerk; Wm. Pierce, Assessor; J. W. Sanborn, Collector and Constable; Frank Cole, Commissioner of Highways; Dennis Halderman, Justice of the Peace.
SPRING GROVE.
This place is named for the spring and the grove surrounding it. It was surveyed and laid out by Mr. Barnum. Wm. Fowles and Richard Robinson built the first houses east of the grove. Both were log buildings.
The first store at Spring was opened about 1845 by John E. Mann.
In 1843 a grist-mill was erected by Blivin. It was operated until 1882, and is now out of repair.
The cheese factory at this place was established in 1874 by James Westlake.
The first hotel was built in 1848 by Joseph Rice. It was kept as a hotel until 1868.
The village has one school, two churches, two general stores, one hardware store, one blacksmith shop, and one cheese factory.
CHUROHES.
Saint Mary's Mission, Protestant Episcopal church, Spring Grove, Burton Township, was organized May 5, 1873, the organi- zation being approved and sanctioned by Rt. Rev. Henry John Whitehouse, Bishop of the Protestant Episcopal Church of Illinois. The following officers of the mission by him were appointed, viz. : Wardens, Robert Richardson and Robert Tweed; Secretary, Wm.
HISTORY OF MO HENRY COUNTY.
421
Slator; Treasurer, John Tweed. The first pastor was Rev. Peter Arvidson, who held week-day services in the school-house during the years 1869 and 1870. During the years 1871 and 1872 Rev. E. K. Miller, of Wilmot, Wis., held Sunday services. The church was in reality organized in 1868, though not till 1873 was it formally approved by the Bishop. The following is a list of ministers who have been appointed to this charge: Rev. D. Ever- hart, Rev. L. C. Lance, Rev. C. D. Mark. In 1882 the church be- gan to lose its strength by deaths and removals, and were unabl to support a regular appointed minister for a time. Week-day services were held by Rev. Edward Richie. Since this date there has been only occasional preaching. The first members to unite with the church at the time of its organization were : Robert Richardson and wife, and daughters, Tamar and Hannah; Robert Tweed, Joseph James, Mrs. James Coulman, Mrs. Wm. Good- hand and daughter Anna, William Tarrington and daughter. Their house of worship was erected in 1873 at an expense of $1,500. It is a neat frame church, and will seat over 100.
BIOGRAPHIOAL.
Henry Broadley is a native of England, and was born May 7, 1804. He came to the United States in 1830, and settled in St. Joseph County, Mich., remaining there till 1842, when he came to McHenry County, and settled in Burton Township, on the farm now owned by John Lawson. In 1845 he bought the farm now owned by W. H. Broadley, remaining there till 1879, when he moved to Waukegan, Ill. He was married in 1835 to Mary Bur- nell. They have had five children-John B., who was born in 1845, and died in 1864; Mary J., Ruth, Anna and William H. Mary and Ruth are married; Anna and William H. are living on the old homestead. Mr. Broadley was one of eight brothers, but three of whom are living-Thomas, George and Henry. The de- ceased are-John, Mathew, William, Stephen and Robert.
Lewis Hatch, a prominent and successful farmer of Burton Township, was born in Washington County, N. Y., April 20, 1814, a son of Waite and Martha (Spencer) Hatch, natives of New Eng- land. His early life was spent with his parents, who, being in limited circumstances, were unable to give him the educational advantages he desired. He spent the most of his evenings in read- ing and study, often giving himself but four to six hours a day for sleep. He worked at anything he could get to do, keeping up
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his studies in the meantime till he was able to pass an examina- tion, and then taught school at $15 a month. When twenty-three years of age he had saved $700, and wishing to try his fortunes in the West came to Illinois in April, 1837. He made the journey by stage, canal and on foot. Reaching the Fox River in June he found land which pleased him and he staked out a half section claim. In the fall of 1838 or '9 he sowed his first crop of wheat where Wilmot now stands. During the next winter he split rails and worked at anything by which he could earn enough to pay his board. When the land came into market he entered five eighty- acre lots which he afterward exchanged for land in Michigan. He subsequently entered 160 or more acres of land on Nippersink Creek, and bought a saw-mill which he ran several years, and then went to farming and stock-raising. In 1875 he moved to the farm where lie now lives. His buildings were destroyed by fire on this farm in 1873 or '4, but he immediately rebuilt, and the buildings are much better than the old. His residence is a two-story frame, with all modern improvements. His farm buildings are the second best in the township. He has a landed estate of 1,300 acres and money at interest, 500 acres being in the homestead. Mr. Hatch was married in 1844 to Miss Mandana Cole, daughter of Miles Cole. They have had five children, four of whom are living- Miles F., in Washington Territory; Fred. L., on the old farm; Frank W., at home, and Martha L., wife of A. H. Hubbard, of Elgin. The sons have each taken a full course at the Illinois Industrial University, Champaign. Frank since took a two years' law course, one at Yale and one at the Chicago Union College of Law, graduating from the latter in 1882. Fred now lias charge of the old homestead farm on the creek, and is raising blooded stock. He was married in January, 1876, to Anna M., daughter of E. H. and Olive Reynolds, of Boone County, Ill.
John Heaney was born in the county of Antrim, Ireland, and died in McHenry County, Ill., Feb. 1, 1880. He married Janet Turner, daughter of James and Janet (Oliver) Turner, a native of Roxburghshire, Scotland, born Jan. 28, 1817. They came to the United States in July, 1847, her parents having come four years previous, landing at New York, and from there went to Buffalo, N. Y., thence via the great lakes to Kenosha, Wis., and from there to Lake County, Ill. In 1864 they came to McHenry County, and located in Burton Township. Mr. and Mrs. Heaney had no chil- dren. Mr. Heaney, at the time of his death, had neither brother
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nor sister. In 1875 he made a trip to Ireland in search of rela- tives, but after a few months sojourn returned, having had a fruit- less trip. Mrs. Heaney has two brothers and three sisters, viz .:- George, now of Lake County, married Bridget Dorsey, and has five children-Katie, Mary J., Lizzie, Maggie and Nellie. Thomas married Janet Akins. He was disabled in the war of the Rebellion, and since the death of his wife has been an inmate of the Soldiers' National Home, Virginia. Sarah, married Richard Oxtoby, of Lake County, and has four children-Thomas, Janet, John and Richard. Isabelle married James Neish and has four children -- Elizabeth, James, Andrew and Isabelle. Jean married Richard Green; they moved to Calaveras County, Cal., over thirty years ago, and have four children-George, Alice, Robert and Ella.
Aaron Hoffman, one of the most successful and prominent farmers of Burton Township, was born in Somerset County, Pa., Oct. 1, 1824, a son of Martin L. and Hannah Hoffman, natives of the same county. His great-grandparents were natives of Ger- many, but were expelled from their native country on account of their religious convictions. They went to France, but were permitted to remain but a short time, when they were again driven out, and this second time had their property confiscated. From France they came, with two brothers of the great-grandfather, to America, and located in Philadelphia. He was a soldier in the Indian and Revolutionary wars. He also worked as a smith in the Government shops, and is said to have been a personal friend of General Washington, and held the rank of Major in the army. The great-grandmother of our subject was purchased by her hus- band for 150 pounds of tobacco. Aaron Hoffman came with his parents to Illinois and settled in McHenry County, June 6, 1836, and were among the first settlers of Burton Township. In 1850, with his father and Oldham Carrot, an Englishman, he went to California, and remained three years, working in the gold mines and fighting the Indians. He was acquainted with Colonel John Fremont, and served under him in a campaign against the Indians. He, however, tired of California, and in 1853 returned to his home in Illinois, arriving in McHenry County May 2. He pur- chased the farm now occupied by him in 1868, and by additions since made to it has now 453 acres. His average wheat crop is 1,000 bushels a year, and he now has fifty acres in corn. He has twenty-two head of Durham cattle and twenty-eight hogs. Mr. Hoffman married Isabella, daughter of John and Mary Cole, of
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Pennsylvania. They have had eight children; but four are living -Cineretta, Mark F., Philip G. and William D. The deceased are-Douglas, Ida, May and Celia A.
Jonathan Imeson was born in England, Dec. 28, 1808, a son of Jonathan and Fannie (Tindil) Imeson. His father died in his na- tive country at the age of thirty-five years, and his mother at the age of sixty. When twenty-five years of age Mr. Imeson came to the United States and located in English Prairie, now Burton Township, McHenry Co., Ill. He lived on section 13 forty years and then moved to his present home on section 18. The first year after coming to the county he lived alone in a sod shanty. Flour' was $20 a barrel, and for three weeks he lived on potatoes. He had to hide his bed from the Indians. Wolves and snakes were plenty. He was at one time visited by a rattlesnake which made its bed with him. Mr. Imeson was married Nov. 30, 1837, to Mary Wray, eldest daughter of Thomas and Alice (Midgeler) Wray. was born in England, June 15, 1819, and came to the United States with her parents in 1833. Mr. and Mrs. Imeson have eight children-Robert, born Jan. 18, 1839; Alice, born in 1840, is the wife of Robert Smith, of Arthur, Ill., and has three daughters-Mary, Orie and Alice. El zabeth and Mary (twins) were born in 1842, and now live in Neosha, Mo. Elizabeth married David Kirk and has our children-Charles, Frederick, Dalton and Idella. Mary married William H. Stew- art and has four children-John, Alice, Harry and Fannie. Fan- nie was born in 1848, and is the wife of Albert Gibbs, of Wisconsin. She has one child-Nellie. Frank Peirce, born in 1853, is single and lives in Lake County, Ill. Idella, born in 1857, married John Crane. John Milton, born in 1861, is at home. The eldest son, Robert, went to Minnesota in 1865 and remained seven years; from there went to St. Louis, Mo., and worked in the car shops five years; thence to San Francisco, Cal. While in Cal- ifornia he partially lost his eyesight and returned to St. Louis, and a year later came home. He afterward went to Arkansas for the benefit of his eyes, and kept a store in Eureka some time. Mr. Imeson's father's family consisted of five children-Elizabeth, Re- becca, Jane, Jonathan and Thomas. Our subject is the only one living. Mrs. Imeson's father died in Richmond, Ill., aged seven- ty-two years. Her mother died in White Pigeon, Mich., aged for- ty-two years. Their family consisted of ten children, all born in England, save the youngest-Richard, Mary, Alice, Ann, Eliza-
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