History of Wayne and Clay counties, Illinois, Part 91

Author:
Publication date: 1884
Publisher: Chicago : Globe Pub. Co.
Number of Pages: 704


USA > Illinois > Clay County > History of Wayne and Clay counties, Illinois > Part 91
USA > Illinois > Wayne County > History of Wayne and Clay counties, Illinois > Part 91


Note: The text from this book was generated using artificial intelligence so there may be some errors. The full pages can be found on Archive.org (link on the Part 1 page).


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JOHN M. CHAFFIN, farmer, P. O. Clay City, was born in Scioto County, Ohio, on March 28, 1828, and is a son of Renben and Sarah (Smith) Chaffin. The father was a native of New Hampshire, and of English descent. the mother, a native of Vermont, and died in January, 1876. The father was both a farmer and miller by occupation. His death occurred in February, 1863. Subject was the fifth of eleven children, of whom


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nine are now living, viz., Osman, in Howard County, Ind .; Mrs. Electa Smith, of Stanford Township ; Leander, in Warren County, Iowa; Francis M., in Page County, Iowa ; Reuben, in San Diego County, Cal .; Mrs. Lucy Michaelney, in Sumner County, Kan .; Benjamin F., in Warren County, Iowa ; Mrs. Roxy Newlan, in Scioto County, Ohio, and John M. (our subject). The latter's educa- tion was received in the schools of his native county. He remained at home until twenty- one, assisting in his father's mill, and also learned the carpenter's trade. He then be- came a partner in a mill in Scioto County. In 1852, he came to Clay County, and here for a number of years he followed his trade of carpenter. In the fall of I865, he came to his present farm, where he now owns 390 acres in Sections 13 and 24, of Township 3 north, Range 7 east. Has about 300 acres in cultivation. Mr. Chaffin was married in Stanford Township, on May 17, 1863, to Miss Mary E. Claypool, a daughter of John Clay - pool, of Ohio. Mrs. Chaffin was born on May 10, 1845, and is the mother of three living children, viz., Herbert Bruce, born March 27, 1864; Francis Marion, born December 25, 1869 ; Horatio Clyde. born January 4, 1873. Mr. and Mrs. Chaffin are both mem- bers of the Clay City Methodist Episcopal Church. Our subject is a strong Republican.


ABEL CHANEY, farmer, P. O. Clay City. The gentleman whose name heads this sketch is one of the oldest settlers now living in the township. He was born on February 5, 1816, in Calvert County, Md., and is a son of William and Ann (Wilkinson) Chaney, natives of that State. Subject was the eighth of ten children, four of whom are now living, viz., Lonis, Abel and Henry in this township, and MIrs. Phoebe Ann Price, of Flora. Soon after subject was born, his parents moved to Butler County, Ohio, where the father died


on September 1, 1834, and in October follow- ing the mother moved to Clinton County, Ind., with her family. Here she died in 1841. Subject's education was received mainly in the schools of Ohio. He remained at home with his mother until twenty-two, and then settled down on a farm in Clinton County, and commenced life for himself. There he remained until September, 1853, and then came to Clay County. He settled on his present farm in this township, where he now owns 130 acres in Sections 24 and 25, of Township 3 north, Range 7 east. He has about 110 acres in cultivation, and about two and a-half acres orchard. Mr. Chaney was married, in Clinton County, Ind., on Jannary 4, 1838, to Miss Christina Fisher, a daughter of Peter and Catherine (Zaering) Fisher, natives of Pennsylvania, and of Dutch descent. Mrs. Chaney was born on October 4, 1818, and is the mother of nine children, six of whom are now living, viz., Washington C., born April 2, 1839, and now in Flora ; Thomas A., born October 5, 1841, now in Wayne County ; Sarah C., born May 4, 1844, now wife of F. J. Sheridan ; David F., born October 1, 1846, now in Wayne County ; Phœbe Ann, born October 27, 1848, now wife of E. McGilton; Charles C., born March 3, 1862, and now at home. Of the deceased ones Louis M. was born February 15, 1851, died August 19, 1858; Mary E. was born May 17, 1853, died August 4, 1860 ; Edward A. was born September 21, 1853, died April 23, 1862. Mr. Chaney has served in many offices, among which are School Treasurer twelve years, and Justice of the Peace twelve years. Both Mr. and Mrs. Chaney are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal Church South of Clay City. In politics, our sub- ject is identified with the Democratic party.


WALTER GILL, farmer, P. O. Clay City, was born in Yorkshire, England, on April 18,


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1827, and is a son of William and Sallie (Littlewood) Gill, both of whom are now dead. lle was the eldest of a family of thirteen children, of whom but four are now living, William, Ruth and Eliza, in England, and Walter, our subject. The latter received a common English education in the old country, and at an early age was apprenticed to learn the mason and stone-cutter's trade. He worked at that trade in England until about twenty-three, and then came to this country, landing in the city of New York in the summer of 1850. He worked in that city at his trade the following fall and win- ter, and in the next two years he worked in different cities in the Atlantic and Middle States. In 1853, he came to Illinois and began working as a contractor for mason and stone work on the Ohio & Mississippi Railroad. He worked on that road for two years, and then went to Missonri and there worked on the North Missouri, which was then under process of construction. He only worked there for one year, and then re- turned to Illinois. He settled in Stanford Township, Clay County. He first purchased 120 acres which he has since increased to 360 acres, situated in Sections 10, 15, 21 and 22. Has about 230 acres in cultivation; al- so pays some attention to stock-raising, handling about fifty head of cattle, and con- siderable amount of other stock in a year. Mr. Gill was married in Clay City Town- ship, Clay County, on March 15, 1855, to Mary Ann Evans, a daughter of Seth and Ketorah Evans, early pioneer settlers in this county, and already noticed in the his- tory of Clay City Township. Mrs. Gill was born in this county on October 5, 1827, and was the mother of seven children, five of whom are now living-Jonas in Flora, Will- iam in Flora, Francis at Xenia, Charles in Louisville, and Oscar at Mill Shoals. Her


death took place in March, 1866, and on September 26, 1869, Mr. Gill was married near Lawrenceville, Lawrence Co., Ill., to Miss Mary Jane Gray, a daughter of George and Mary Ann (Doty) Gray, both natives of Virginia. This lady was also born in that State on January 1, 1840, and to her have been born five children, three of whom are now living, viz., Cora L., Ida R. and Emma J. Mr. Gill is a strong Democrat. Mrs. Gill is a member of the Clay City Methodist Epis- copal Church.


JOSEPH S. PEAK, school teacher, Flora, was born in Butler County, Ohio, on March 16, 1837, and is a son of William E. and Cynthia (Flenner) Peak. The parents were also born in that county, but the father originally descended from English emigrants who settled in an early day in Maryland, and the mother came from Pennsylvania Dutch stock. Subject was the second of eleven children, of whom eight are now liv- ing-Mrs. Angeline Chidester, of Flora; Mrs. Mary Floyd, of Dublin, Ind .; T. De Witt, of Portsmouth, Ohio; Mrs. Carrie Major, of Flora; Mrs. Callie Manker, of Clay City; R. F., in Fort Scott, Kansas; Lou M., in Clay City, and Joseph S., our subject. In 1853, the parents came to Indiana and settled in Shelby County. There they remained some ten years, and then came to Flora, Ill. At this place the mother died in February, 1877, but the father is still living there at the hale old age of seventy-five. The free schools of Ohio furnished our subject his means of ed- ucation. He assisted on the home farm in Indiana until about eighteen, when he com- menced teaching, and ever since he has made that the vocation of his life. He remained in Indiana until 1864, when he came to Clay County and settled in this township. Here he now owns sixty acres in Section 16, of Town 2 north, Range 7, which he farms in


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the summer. His schools have been taught mainly in this township, and he is regarded as one of the best teachers in the county. He has taught every year since he arrived in the county. Among the schools which he has taught have been two terms at Baylor Schoolhouse, four at Seminary School, two at Bothwell and is now teaching at the Cen- ter School. He enlisted in Indiana on August 20, 1861, in Company B of the Thirty-third Regiment Indiana Volunteer Infantry, and served nine months. Was honorably discharged on account of sickness. Mr. Peak was married in Shelby County, Ind., on November 7, 1857, to Miss Susan Lick, a daughter of John B. and Maria (East) Lick, natives of North Carolina. This union has resulted in seven children, six of whom are now living-Addie, Charles A., Mary (now Deputy Postmistress at Clay City), William B., Edwin E. and Tillie L. He has served in many township offices, among which might be mentioned that of Township Supervisor, Clerk and Treasurer. He has always been connected with the Re- publican party. He is a member of the United Brethren Church at Harmony Chapel.


HARRY L. VAIL, farmer, P. O. Clay City, was born in Butler County, Ohio, on February 22, 1845, and is a son of Moses and Elizabeth (Vail) Vail. The parents were natives of Darke County, and of Scotch de- scent. Subject was the seventh of eight children, of whom seven are living, viz. : Mrs. Ellen Smalley, in Montgomery County, Ind .; Mrs. Sarah Murphy, of Randolph County, Ind .; Linus, in Butler County, Ohio;


Mrs. Maria Enyart, of Louisville, Clay County; Mrs. Matilda Kinikin, of Butler County, Ohio; Mrs. Eliza J. Peak, of Ports- mouth, Ohio; and Harry L., our subject. The free schools of his native county fur- nished the latter his means of education. He remained at home until twenty, and then came to Schuyler County, Ill., where he remained but one year; then, in 1867, he came to Clay County, and first settled in this town- ship. After a year's residence on the farm, he moved to Clay City, and purchasing a drug store ran it for two years. He next went to Mississippi, and there merchandized for two years. From this State he again returned to Clay County, and this time lo- cated at Louisville, where he merchandized for one year. In 1872, he again came back to his farm in this township, and resided here for four years. The next two years he spent in his native county in Ohio, and then again came to this township. Here he now owns 740 acres in Sections 34, 35 and 36. He has about 700 acres in cultivation, and twelve acres in orchard. He also devotes some attention to stock-raising, handling about seventy five head of hogs and 100 head of cattle per year. Mr. Vail was married, in St. Louis, Mo., on December 1, 1867, to Miss Fanny Murphy. This lady was born on January 7, 1845. Mr. Vail gives his support to the Democratic party. Both Mr. and Mrs. Vail are members of the Olive Methodist Episcopal Church South of this township. Subject is also a member of Clay City Lodge, No. 488, A. F. & A. M.


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LARKINSBURG TOWNSHIP.


J. M. ALLDRIDGE, merchant, Iola, was born June 18, 1840, in this township. He is a son of William and Dicy (Davis) Al- dridge, of whom mention is made in another part of this work. Our subject went to school here, and engaged in farming till he came to Iola. Previous to this, he had owned two good farms; the first of 100 acres he sold to Andrew Koss: the last of 136 acres he told to S. Weaver. In Iola, he bought a lot and house of Moore & Riley, in which he keeps a grocery store, also queens- ware and glassware. He also keeps boarders. Mr. Alldridge was married here, December 17, 1868, to Miss Sarah J. Littleton, born August 5, 1850, in this township. She is a daughter of John and Catharine (Peck) Lit- tleton, who are natives of Ohio. The result of this happy union is five children, viz., Mary A., Robert E., Leslie, Dollie and Claude (deceased). Mr. Alldridge has made a suc- cess in farming, and also in his new occupa- tion. for which he seems eminently fitted. He has filled the offices of Township Clerk two years, and of Township Assessor two years. In politics, he is an ardent Democrat, and con sidered a leader among the Democrats in Larkinsburg Township.


EDWARD FENDER, farmer, P. O. Iola, was born September 16, 1826, in Ashe Coun- ty, N. C., son of Andrew and Elizabeth (Bath) Fender. Andrew Fender was a native of North Carolina, and was a farmer and black- smith by occupation. He came to this county from Owen County, Ind., in 1843, and settled in Louisville Township, where he lived one year, then came to Larkinsburg Township, where he settled in Section 11, and bought the


improvements on Lowtrip's farm, which land he deeded the next year. After living here eighteen years, he went to Mercer County, Ill., where he lived fourteen years; then re- turned to this county, and after a three years' residence here moved back to Mercer County, where he died March 11, 1883, aged one hun- dred years. He was married four times, his first wife, Sarah O. Bath, died leaving seven children, viz., Aaron, Louis, John, Nellie, Anderson, Catharine and Nancy, of whom only Aaron is now living. His second wife, Elizabeth Bath, born in North Carolina, was the mother of six children, viz., Daniel, An- drew, Charity (deceased). Edward (our sub- ject), Elizabath Williamson and Nancy (de- ceased). His third wife, Mrs. Margaret Dyer, died in Mercer County. She was the mother of four children by this marriage, viz .. Polly A. Shieft, Isaac, Madison and Jacob. His fourth wife, Mrs. Bingum, is yet living, and is the mother of several chil- dren. Our subject has been a farmer and trader. After he was married, he bought eighty acres of land in Louisville Township, which he sold. He then bought 120 acres which he also sold, living only a short time on each place. He then bought 160 acres in Oskaloosa Township, where he lived about twenty-nine years, during which time he bought considerable land, owning at one time 640 acres. He moved to Iola in Febru- ary, 1873. and has practically retired from active life. He started with nothing in the world and is a self-made man in every re- spect. While in Iola, he worked at the blacksmith trade part of the time, also was in a drug store, and for two years owned a


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one-third interest in the Iola Mills. H℮ never learned to read and write, but has done a good deal of business in his life. Our sub- ject was married here, April 9, 1846, to Miss Ella J. Davis, born February 16, 1829, in Tennessee. She is a daughter of Basil and Sarah (Tims) Davis. She is the mother of eleven children, of whom five are now living, viz., John W., Andrew B., Henry M., Theo- dosia Williams and James N. Mr. and Mrs. Fender are religiously connected with the Baptist Church. He is a Democrat; and has yet 280 acres of land, having given all his children a farm or its equivalent in money.


I. D. FENDER, farmer, P. O. Edgewood, Effingham Co., Ill., was born December 24, 1839, in Lawrence County, Ind. His par- ents were John and Matilda (Sheeks) Fender, the former a native of North Carolina, and the latter of Lawrence County, Ind .; she died in 1875. John Fender, the father of our subject, came to Illinois in 1850, and settled in Effingham County, where he died in the fall of 1865. He was one of the largest farmers of his day, owning at one time over 1,200 acres of land in this and Effingbam Counties, of which a great deal was deeded to his children before his demise. He was also a great stock-trader as well as farmer, and widely known for his honesty in dealing and his broad ideas and general knowledge. He was married in Indiana. His wife was the mother of nine children, of whom five are now living, viz .: Malinda C. Brown, Isaac D. (our subject), Sarah (deceased), Daniel (now a resident of Mercer County), John B. (deceased), Mary E. (deceased), Joseph O., Martha E. Brown (deceased), and Henry D. Our subject was reared and schooled in Indiana and in this county. He has been married twice, the first time in 1860, to Sarah J. Price, a native of this town- ship, a daughter of James and Sina (Trover)


Price, he a native of North Carolina, and she of Larkinsburg Township, of which her father was an old settler. Seven children were the result of this union, of whom only Sina C., born May 16, 1868, is now living. After the death of Mr. Fender's first wife, he was married a second time, to Eugenia Brown, born April 2, 1855, in Johnson County, Ind., daughter of Job and Phoebe (Williams) Brown. Four children are the result of this union, viz .: Charley J., Phoebe L., Robert O., and Maggie D. Mr. and Mrs. Fender are members of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ. He is a Republican; has been Tax Collector three terms; and keeps his farm of 250 acres in a high state of cul- tivation.


H. S. WATSON, farmer and miller, P. O. Iola. Some men can only follow one occu- pation in life, and that one is the only one which leads to their prosperity. Other men, with large and active brains, perhaps with a restless disposition, but with sterling business qualities, can go into almost anything and make a success of it. The subject of the fol- lowing sketch belongs to the latter class, and at life's close can look back and say that he has not lived in vain: Mr. H. S. Watson was born October 6, 1831, in Washington County, N. Y., of which place his parents, David R. and Lydia (Whedon) Watson, are also natives. David Watson is a mechanic, and is yet living in Livingston County, N. Y., aged seventy-seven years, and is the father of three children, viz .: Henry S., William D. and Maria Mckinnon (deceased). Mrs. Lydia Watson died in this township in 1871, after which David R. Watson, the father of our subject, was married a second time to Lois A. Worthington, a native of New York. She is yet living, and is the mother of Walter Watson. Our subject was educated in New York, and at the age of fourteen went to


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Monticello, Jefferson Co., Ga., where he clerked eight years in succession for his un- cle, Joel S. Graves, who owned one store in Georgia and another across the line in Flor- ida. Mr. Watson also clerked in the Florida store whenever business was pressing. In Thomas County, Ga., on February 1, 1854, our subject was married to Miss Julia A. Wood, born February 3, 1832, in Southwick, Mass. Her parents, William A. and Laura (Shepard) Wood, were also natives of Massa- chusetts, and of English descent. Our subject followed farming in Goorgia till December, 1857, when he came to Xenia, Clay Co., Ill., where he followed the carpenter and joiner's trade till 1860, when he merchandized one year in Blue Point, Wayne Co., Ill., with discour. aging results, and in 1861 came to Larkins- burg Township, where he farmed one year. In 1862, he enlisted in the Ninety-eighth Illinois Mounted Infantry, Company C, act- ing as Regimental Quartermaster, with the rank of Lieutenant. While at Macon, Ga., he was detailed as Post Quartermaster, in which capacity he remained until he was or- dered home with his regiment, having served nearly three years. After the war, our sub- ject engaged in the furniture business in


Xenia, but after one year moved to Odin, Marion County, where he worked at the car- penter trade, and then went to Medina, Or- leans Co., N. Y., where he remained but a short time, and then returned to Larkins- burg Township, Clay Co., Ill., which he has made his home mainly ever since. During the years 1872 to 1876, he served as County Treasurer of Clay County. In 1876, he formed a partnership with William H. Hudle- son, and ongaged in the banking business at Louisville till November, 1881, when he closed up and returned to Larkinsburg Town- ship, where he is at present engaged in the milling business, having bought a one-fourth interest in the Jola Mills. He also is inter- ested in farming, and owns 900 acres of land in this and adjoining townships. Mr. and Mrs. Watson are members of the Presbyterian Church in Flora, and are the parents of two children, viz. : Laura S. Rapp (born Novem- ber 9, 1854), and Henry E. (born September 22, 1856). Mr. Watson is an active member of the Iola Lodge, No. 691, of which he has been Master. He is identified with the Re- publican party, has filled many township offices, and is at present President of the Board of Supervisors.


BLAIR TOWNSHIP.


JAMES ANDERSON, physician, Hord, was born July, 3, 1825 in Fayette County, Ind., sou of George and Eliza (Shipley) Anderson, he a native of Kentucky, and she of Maryland. He was born in September, 1798, and died Aug. 6, 1883, and was a farmer and mechanic by occupation. She was born in 1803, and died in Sonoma County, Cal. She is the mother of ten children, viz .: James, Cyn-


thia, Eliza, Robert and David (twins), Sarah, Jane, George, Rebecca and Thomas. Our subject is mainly self-educated, receiv- ing his medicial education at Des Moines, Iowa, to which city his father had moved in 1848. There Dr. Russell was his preceptor for two years, after which he studied medi- cine himself and gradually acquired his fund of knowledge. In the spring of 1852, he re-


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turned to Illinois, where he stayed one year with Dr. Falley, of Mason, Effingham County. In 1856, our subject came to Clay County, where he boarded nine months with Dr. Bugher and taught school, also prac- ticed medicine a little by visiting Dr. Bugher's patients for him. After this, our subject taught school in this and Effingham County for two years, and finally in 1858 established himself as a physician in Jordon. At present he resides a half mile west of Jordon, now called Hord Post Office, enjoy- ing a large and remunerative practice. The Doctor also owns 215 acres of land in this town- ship. Dr. Anderson was joined in matrimony, January 2, 1859, in Blair Township to Miss Susannah Blair, born February 13, 1836, in Indiana. She is a daughter of James and Margaret (Hughes) Blair. Six children are the result of this happy union, the names of the children are: George (born October 10, 1859), David B. (born December 10, 1861), Francis H. (born October 15, 1864), Howard MI. (born July 23, 1870), Luella (born April 24, 1872, she died November 14, 1874), and Mahala A. (born March 10, 1876). Dr. and Mrs. Anderson are members of the Baptist Church. He has filled the office of Town- ship Clerk, Highway Commissioner, Town ship Supervisor.


DAVID BLAIR, farmer, P. O. Hord, was born June 16, 1829, in Martin County, Ind. He is a son of James and Margaret (Hughes) Blair, natives of Tennessee, who settled in Blair Township on Section 15, in the fall of 1839. Our subject received his schooling in Indiana and in the old-fashioned subscrip- tion schools of this county. When the war clouds began to hover over this country, Mr. Blair became an ardent supporter of the Union cause and enlisted August 12, 1861, at Mason, Ill., in the Thirty-eighth Illinois Vol- unteer Infantry, Company B, Capt. Young.


He held the position of First Duty Sergeant, and served till September 15, 1864, that be- ing the expiration of his time, and on ac- count of sickness, received his discharge at Chattanooga. He participated in the battles of Frederickstown, Stone River, the Georgia campaign and other engagements. At the battle of Stone River, he was taken prisoner of war, but paroled, and as the parole was not recognized, he continued to do duty. Upon his return home, he engaged in agri- cultural pursuits. and as the result of bis la. bor has a fine farm of 140 acres of land with good improvements. He bought his first land in 1864, forty-eight acres, for which he paid $800. Our subject was married, No- vember 3, 1864, to Hannah R. Wilson, who died July 3, 1865. His present wife, nee Miss Adeline Lewis, a model wife and house- keeper, was born October 10, 1835, in Louis- ville. She is a daughter of Crawford and Elizabeth (Neel) Lewis, and is the mother of four children-Hallie G., born August 25, 1869; Francis W., born December 2, 1870. Harrison E. born August 5, 1872, and Anna Rosette, deceased. Mr. Blair has served his many friends in the capacity of School Treas- urer, and in politics is a Republican.


JESSE BLAIR, farmer, P. O. Hord, is another descendant of one of our old pio- neer families in Blair Township. He is a son of Josiah Blair, who was a native of Hawkins County, Tenn. He, Josiah Blair, was married twice; his first wife, Hattie (Ray) Blair, was a native of Indiana, where she died. She was the mother of five children -George, Nancy Eytchison, John, Jesse, our subject, and Jemima Redman. His second wife, Lavina Westmoreland, whom he mar- ried in Indiana, and with whom he came to this county, was the mother of the following children-Manley, William, Alfred, Josiah and Hailey are now dead, Manley and Josiah 16


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dying while in the army. The following are yet living: James H., Henry C., Harrison, Louisa Williams, Lavina E., Elizabeth Rex- rode and Sarah J., wife of Dr. Gladson. Josiah Blair died in this county in 1865. Mrs. Lavina Blair died several years after her husband's demise. The grandfather of our subject was Robert Blair, whose wife's maiden name was Bean; they came here in 1837, and died here. Our subject, Jesse Blair, received only three months' schooling, which was obtained from William Laws in a log schoolhouse, but not learning to write till he was twenty-one years old. He came to this county with his father in the spring of 1837, and spent his youth in cultivating the virgin soil of Blair Township, which was named in honor of his father and uncles. In 1855, Jesse Blair bought forty acres of


land, for which he paid $325. He now owns 200 acres of good land. Mr. Blair has been married twice. His first wife, Polly A. Ed- wards, was a daughter of William Edwards, an old pioneer, who is yet living in this county. She was born in Indiana, and died here. His present wife, who was Mrs. Mary Hodge, a widow lady at time of marriage, is a daughter of William and Frances Jordan, both natives of North Carolina. Mrs. Blair, a native of Indiana, and is the mother of A. E. Hodge, a son of her first husband. Mr. and Mrs. Blair are connected with the Chris- tian Church, sometimes called New-Lights. Mr. Blair enjoys the respect of the commu- nity in which he resides, having served the people therein as Constable seven years, and Justice of the Peace seven years; votes the Republican ticket.


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UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS-URBANA 977.379H62W C001 HISTORY OF WAYNE AND CLAY COUNTIES, ILLI


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