USA > Illinois > White County > History of White County Illinois > Part 44
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B. F. Davis was born in the city of Augusta, Georgia, Decem- ber. 1822. His parents were Hezekiah and Martha Davis, natives of South Carolina, where they were married. They afterward moved to Georgia, and in 1823 came to White County, Ill. They were members of the Old School Presbyterian church. B. F. was the youngest of their four sons and is the only one living. He was but a year old when he came with his parents to White County. They settled on a farm on the Skillet Fork, Burnt Prairie Township, where the father died three months after. Mrs. Davis afterward married Josiah Fulford and B. F. remained on a farm
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Willis Gerard
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Col. John E. Whiting. See Page 512
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with them until seventeen, then he struck out to hew his own way in the world. He first worked five months on the old national wagon road in Effingham County, Ill. Then he returned to Burnt Prairie and worked for different parties until he purchased a farm of his own in this township. Was married to Mary J. Graham April 8, 1854. She was born in Carmi Township March 14, 1838, and was a daughter of Nathaniel P. and Susannah (Frazier) Graham. In 1858 he came to Liberty and opened his present store of general merchandise, where he carries a full and complete stock. Mrs. Davis is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church. They have had a family of five children; one died, an infant, four are living- Nathaniel P., born Nov. 28, 1857; Mary E., born Sept. 29, 1859; Victoria A., born Jan. 10, 1865; Susie C., born Ang. 19, 1867. Mr. Davis owns 1,000 acres of land in Burnt Prairie and Mill Shoals townships. He started in life with a small capital and a strong will and iron constitution. By hard work and good manage- ment and honest dealing he has accumulated a fine property, The first piece of land he owned he purchased by chopping cord wood. His early education was obtained in the log-cabin schools of that day. He is a self-made man. He was first a Whig, and at the organization of the Republican party became one of its strong supporters.
Charles Dewiers was born in Belgium, Feb. 7, 1833. His par- ents were Gregory J. and Agnes M. (Seuacq) Dewiers. They were members of the Catholic church. Charles is their youngest son, and the only one in America. He attended school until six- teen, and when seventeen he came alone to America, in 1850; came to San Francisco, Cal., to try his fortune in the gold mines, and mined and prospected thirteen years; traveled all over the Ter- ritory; remained in California until 1862. During this time was in Oregon, and in the Volunteer Frontier Corps, and fought the In- dians of Oregon. In the summer of 1862 he went to Nevada and prospected and mined until the spring of 1865, when he had to leave his farm and everything in Hamburg town, where he had thirty-two acres of land. The Piute Indians drove the people out. He then went to Idaho to the gold mines and had to fight Indians all the way. Three of his companions were killed. He remained in Idaho gold mines six or seven months, then went to the Mon- tana gold mines and engaged in the mercantile trade until Octo- ber, 1868, when he came to White County, Ill., and bought his present farm in Burnt Prairie Township, section 29, where he has a
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farm of eighty acres. He also owns fifty acres in Carmi Town- ship. He was married in Burnt Prairie Township to Agnes Dow- nen, July 4, 1869. She was born in Indiana. After his marriage Mr. Dewiers settled on his farm in Burnt Prairie Township where he now resides. He and wife had a family of six children-Flora, born May 9, 1870; Mary A., born Dec. 23, 1873; Agnes E., born Jan. 22, 1875, died Oct. 1, 1875; Nellie R., born Sept. 14, 1877; Albert G. and Edwin Lewis (twins), born Jan. 22, 1880, died, Al- bert, Jan. 22, 1880, and Edwin L., Jan. 26, 1880. Mrs. Dewiers died Jan. 31, 1880. She was a member of the Methodist church and was buried in the Shipley Cemetery. Mr. Dewiers is a mem- ber of the Catholic church. In politics he is a Democrat and cast his first vote for Pierce for President.
John Dosher was born in Messer County, Va., in 1809. When nine years of age, in 1818, he came with his mother and grand- father to White County, Ill., and settled on a farm in the woods. They first lived in a tent until they built a cabin. John was the eldest of a family of four children. He lived on the farm with his grandfather, and helped clear a farm, until his marriage to Chris- tina Barbara in 1829. She was born in Warren County, Ky., and was a daughter of John and Sally Barbara. They came in the same company with young Dosher and his grandfather, to White County. Mr. and Mrs. Dosher had twelve children, only one living- Charles, who married Anna Smith, and resides in Burnt Prairie Township. Mrs. John Dosher died on the old homestead. Mr. Dosher then married Mrs. Mary (Grimes) Bell, and the fruits of this marriage were five children, three living -- George, who mar- ried Margaret Redman, and resides on the old homestead; Edward W. and Elijah L. Dosher, who reside on the old homestead with their father; their mother died in 1879. Mr. Dosher then mar- ried Lila Hopson in December, 1880. They had one child-Lila, died, aged three months. Mrs. Dosher died April 2, 1882. Mr. Dosher owns 4012 acres of land. Mr. Dosher is one of the few old settlers now living in White County. He has lived to see many changes in this county, and, although an old man now, is hale and hearty. In politics a Republican; cast his first vote for old A. Jackson, and his grandfather an old-line Whig.
David R. Downen was born in Todd County, Ky .. April 29, 1813. His parents were Job and Mary (Robinson) Downen, natives of North Carolina, and members of the old Regular Baptist church. David R. was the youngest of their nine children, and when ten
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years of age he removed with his parents to Posey County, Ind., where he lived until his marriage to Mary J. South, a native of Ohio, and a daughter of Archibald and Agnes (Rutter) South. After his marriage Mr. Downen settled on a farm in Posey County, Ind., until April, 1851, when he came to White County and settled on his present farm on section 31, Burnt Prairie Township. He and wife had eleven children, six living-William, married Angeline Moore, who died, and he then married Minerva Dickson; Mary, married Frederic Layman; Job, married Hannah Hutchi- son; Sarah A., wife of Robert F. Dickson; Frank M., married Elizabeth Cooper; and Rachel. The mother died in 1873. Mr. Downen married Mrs. Martha (Drake) Blakeslee, a native of Posey County, Ind., and a daughter of Joel Drake. Mr. and Mrs. Dow- nen have two children-Martha F. and John T. Mr. Downen owns a farm of 220 acres, 120 under cultivation. He and wife are mem- bers of the Methodist Episcopal church. In politics he has always been a Democrat, until the past few years, since which time he has been a supporter of the Greenback party. He cast his first vote for Old Hickory Jackson. He was elected Justice of the Peace of Burnt Prairie Township, and held that office thirteen years. One son, Job Downen, was in the late war, and in Andersonville prison sixteen months.
Cyrus Elliott was born in Phillips Township, White County July 20, 1829. His parents were Benjamin and Sarah (Hickason) Elliott. Cyrus was the elder of their seven children. He re- mained on the farm with his parents until his marriage to Miss Mary Hanks, May 4, 1861. She was born in Gray Township, White County, and was a daughter of Andrew J. and Frances IIam) Hanks. After his marriage Mr. Elliott lived in Phillips Township two years, then settled on his present farm in Burnt Prairie Township. He owns a large farm in Gray, Burnt Prairie, and Phillips townships. He and wife have had a family of eight children, seven living-Sarah E. F., born Feb. 27, 1862, died July 6, 1864; Mary A., born Aug. 31, 1862 wife of Will- iam Carter; Andrew J., born Sept. 4, 1865; Martha E., born March 28, 1868; Nancy J., born Sept. 19, 1870; Rebecca, born May 18, 1873; Benjamin F., born Dec. 29, 1875; George W., born Oct. 18, 1877; Lucinda, born March 18, 1881. Mr. Elliott has held various local offices of trust in his township. In politics he is a Democrat.
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Elijah S. Fulkerson was born in Mercer County, Ind., April 20, 1839. His parents were Fulkard and Polly (Coleman) Ful- kerson. They settled in White County in 1819, and he was one of the first to build a horse-mill. He and wife were members of the Baptist church, and it was in his house that the first Baptist ser- vices and church in Burnt Prairie Township were organized. He and wife had a family of seven sons and one danghter. Elijah S. was the youngest. His father, after remaining in White County some years, removed to Indiana and thence to Kentucky, and when Elijah was eighteen, in 1857, returned to White County and settled in Burnt Prairie. He lived on the farm with his father until his marriage to Emeline Hunsinger, Oct. 5, 1858. She was born in Burnt Prairie Township, and was a daughter of Mathias and Eliza A. (Funkhouser) Hunsinger. After his marriage he settled on a farm in Burnt Prairie Township, and has resided in this township ever since. He and wife had a family of four chil- dren-Mary E., born Aug. 5, 1859, died Nov. 4, 1864; William H., born Feb. 3, 1861; Mathias D., born Jan. 8, 1863; Charles E., born Jan. 7, 1865. Mrs. Fulkerson died Jan. 28, 1865. Mr. Fulkerson then married, June 20, 1865, Emma Vaught, who was born on the same farm where she and family now reside, May 23, 1846. She was a daughter of Willis and Eliza A. (Funkhouser) Vaught. Mr. and Mrs. Fulkerson are members of the Missionary Baptist church. They have had a family of nine children-Eliza A., born June 23, 1867; Mary C., born March 20, 1870; Augustus O., born Dec. 5, 1872; Geo. P., born Nov. 7, 1875; Martin W., born April 28, 1878; Mattie E., born Feb. 19, 1881. Mr. Fulkerson owns a fine farm of 200 acres, 180 under cultivation. At the out- breaking of the late Rebellion he enlisted in August, 1861, in Company C, Fortieth Illinois Infantry. and remained in the service until January, 1862, when he was discharged on account of sick- ness. Politically he is a Conservative Democrat; cast his first vote for Douglas.
Henry C. Fulkerson was born in Olive County, Ky., Feb. 4, 1819. His parents were Fulkard and Polly (Coleman) Fuikerson. Henry C. was their eldest child, and was four or five years of age when his parents came to White County, Ill. The family settled in Burnt Prairie Township, near Liberty. When Henry C. was sixteen or seventeen he removed with his parents to Clark County, Ind., where he married Polly Williams, Oct. 25, 1841. She was born in Scott County, Ind., Feb. 26, 1824, and was a daughter of
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Julia and Susan (Kimberlan) Williams. In 1852 Mr. and Mrs. Fulkerson moved to Burnt Prairie Township, White County, Ill., and settled on the farm where he still resides, on sections 9, 10, 15 and 16, where he owns 480 acres of land, 380 under cultivation. Mr. and Mrs. Fulkerson are members of the Missionary Baptist church. They have had a family of nine children-Mary J., born Ang. 18, 1842, married William Majors; William J., born Aug. 27, 1843, married Alice Vaught; John, born July 11, 1847, mar- ried Caroline Funkhonser; Percilla A., born July 25, 1851, mar- ried Thomas Vanght; George W., born Oct. 25, 1853, died in April, 1856; Martin T., born May 17, 1856, married Evaline Hood; Emeline, born Oct. 25, 1859; Adeline, born Nov. 15, 1861; Kate, born Feb. 18, 1865. Politically Mr. Fulkerson is a Democrat.
William J. Fulkerson was born in Scott County, Ind., Aug. 27, 1843. His parents were Henry C. and Mary (Williams) Ful- kerson. His father was born in Kentucky, and when four or five years of age came with his parents to White County, Ill., and when eighteen years of age his parents removed to Scott County, where he was married. He and wife are members of the Missionary Bap- tist church. They have had a family of nine children. William J. was the second child and oldest son. When seven years of age he came with his parents to Burnt Prairie Township, White County, and settled on a farm within a mile of where he now lives. He re- mained on this old farm until his marriage with Alice Vaught, Oct. 9, 1864. She was born in Mill Shoals Township, April 8, 1846, and was a daughter of William and Margaret (George) Vaught. After his marriage Mr. Fulkerson settled on section 9, Burnt Prairie Township, where he owns a fine farm of 180 acres, ninety acres under cultivtaion. Mr. and Mrs. Falkerson are both members of the Missionary Baptist church. They have had a family of seven children-George F., born Sept 16, 1865; John T., born Sept. 27, 1867; Minnie D., born Feb. 27, 1870; Clara B., born March 24, 1872; Charles E., born April 14, 1874 ; Samuel W., born Sept. 15, 1876, and William H., born Oct. 19, 1880. Politi- cally Mr. Fulkerson is a Democrat.
James T. Funkhouser was born in Muhlenburg County, Ky., Aug. 14, 1825. His parents were Young and Mary (Cross) Funkhouser, natives of Virginia and Kentucky respectively. In 1819 they came to White County, Ill., and settled on a farm in Burnt Prairie Township. It was while they were in Kentucky on a visit that
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James T. was born. Six weeks after his birth he returned with his parents to their farm in Burnt Prairie Township, White County, where James lived until his marriage to Mary Hunsinger, Nov. 23, 1845. She was born in Phillipstown, White Co., Ill., Aug. 16, 1827, and was a daughter of Samuel and Polly (Ellis) Hun- singer, among the first settlers of Phillipstown and Burnt Prairie Township. After his marriage Mr. Funkhouser rented land one year and then bought his present farm on section 7, Burnt Prairie Township, where he has since resided. He and wife and family are all members of the United Baptist church. Mr. and Mrs. Funkhouser have had four sons and seven daughters-Sarah, born Aug. 26, 1846, married Henry Hunsinger; Henry and Will- iam (twins) were born Sept. 28, 1848, and William died July 28, 1852; Henry married Miss Eliza Graves; Amanda, born Jan. 5, 1851, married Ezekiel Graves; Wesley, born Ang. 15, 1852, mar- ried Amanda Ilunsinger; Ira, born Oct. 22, 1854, married Anna Holland; Adelina, born Dec. 22, 1856, married Noah Robinson; Esther, born Feb. 26, 1859, married John Jones, of Mill Shoals Township; Rose, born Sept. 7, 1861, married Frank White, of Mill Shoals Township; Emma, born Sept. 13, 1864, and Josie, born March 12, 1867, reside at home with their parents. James T. Funkhouser owns eighty acres of the old homestead hav- ing divided his farm with his children. Politically he was first, a Whig and afterward a Democrat. His first vote was for Harri- son for President. He has held various local offices in his town- ship: Township Treasurer, Commissioner of Highways and School Director.
Virgil Funkhouser was born one mile west of Carini on a farm now owned by Ninian Young, Sept. 9, 1819. His parents were Isaac and Mary (Young) Funkhouser, natives of Kentucky. Virgil was the youngest son and sixth child of their nine children. His carly life was spent on a timbered farm. He first attended school in Burnt Prairie Township, in a log school-house, that stood in a clearing near where the Mount Pleasant church now is. Mr. Funkhouser remained on the farm with his parents until his mar- riage to Miss Mary Hunsinger, Dec. 23, 1840. She was born in Burnt Prairie Township, March 11, 1824. They have had a family of thirteen children-The eldest died, an infant; Mariah, born Aug. 25, 1844, died Feb. 26, 1855; Benjamin, born Feb. 4, 1846, died Sept. 19, 1848; Mary born April 26, 1849, married Andrew J. Lee and resides on his farm in Burnt Prairie Township;
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Caleb, born Dec. 5, 1851, died Aug. 18, 1855; Simon, born Dec. 15, 1852, married Mary Johnson, and again married Mary E. Cale, and resides in Indiana; Preston, born July 20, 1855, married Mary E. Jordan, and resides in Burnt Prairie Township; David C., born Oct. 22, 1857, married Miss Frances M. B. Rawls, Jan. 9, 1879, who was born Nov. 31, 1860, in Burnt Prairie Township; Emeline, born Jan. 10, 1860, married Henry Wetlaw, March 1, 1881, and resides in Burnt Prairie Township; Amanda, born Jan. 15, 1862, married Jacob Majors May 10, 1880, and rosides in Burnt Prairie Township; Sarah E., born March 9, 1864; Alice, born Dec. 27, 1866; Julia A., born Aug. 22, 1869. Mr. Virgil Funkhouser owns a farın of 300 acres in Burnt Prairie Township, 240 under cultivation. In politics he is a Democrat, and cast his first vote for President for James R. Polk. Mr. and Mrs. Funk- houser are members of the Missionary Baptist church.
William Gray was born in Wayne County, near Liberty, White County, Jan. 2, 1834. His parents were William and Rutha (Hardin) Gray, natives of Virginia. When six years of age he moved with his parents to Burnt Prairie Township, White County, where the father died some two years after. William then lived with his mother on the farm until August, 1862, when he enlisted in Company F, Ninety-eighth Illinois Infantry. He remained in the service until the close of the war, when he returned home. In January, 1866, he married Susan Watkins, a native of Burnt Prairie Township and a daughter of Elias and Matilda (Williams) Watkins. After his marriage Mr. Gray settled on his present farm on sections 18 and 17, Burnt Prairie Township, where he and family reside. Mr. and Mrs. Gray have seven children-Alonzo L., born Jan. 17, 1867; Wesley W., born Aug. 20, 1868; Sarah II., born Feb. 17, 1870; Martha A., born April 20, 1873; Rutha W., born Dec. 25, 1876; Mary P., born Sept. 8, 1878; Thomas I., born June 5, 1881. Mr. Gray owns a fine farm of eighty acres, fifty under cultivation. In politics he is a Republican.
John L. Hadden was born in Carmi Township, White Co., Ill., Feb. 24, 1852. His parents were Hardin and Clementine (Maddon) Hadden. His mother was a native of Tennessee. His father came to White County with his parents when a child. He was married here. He and his wife settled first in Carmi Township on a farm, where they lived until 1864, when he moved on his farm in Burnt Prairie Township, where he died May, 1876. His wife still resides on the old homestead. They were members of the Christian
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church. John L. was their second son. He still resides on the old homestead with his mother. He owns forty acres of the old homestead. In politics he is a Republican. His father was one of the pioneers, and a shoemaker by trade.
John Haefele, merchant of Liberty, came here in January, 1852, and was the first cigar-maker here. He was just 21 years of age. He followed this until 1855, when he began to clerk in the store of Preston L. Funkhouser, and clerked with him until 1859, when he opened a store of his own and established his present business. He began with a capital of $7.50 and an honest face; he carries a full and complete stock of guns and merchandise, and owns 1,100 acres of farming lands in White and Wayne counties in the vicinity of Liberty. Mr. Haefele was born in the city of Goeppin- gen, Wurtemberg, Germany, April 15, 1831. His parents were John J. and Fredericka (Euchner) Haefele. His father was a broadcloth manufacturer. He and wife had a family of two sons- John J., Jr., residing in Germany, and Jolin, 2d, subject of this sketch; he attended school until fourteen, when he learned book- keeping and merchandising. When seventeen years old he emi- grated alone to New York; was thirty-three days at sea in a sailing vessel; landed in New York City and followed the cigar manufact- urer's trade two years; then went to Babytown, Posey Co., Ind., and worked at his trade until 1852, when he came to White County, Ill., locating in Liberty, where he has since resided. Sept. 18, 1854, Mr. Haefele married Elizabeth Gray, who was born in Burnt Prairie Township, Dec. 6, 1830, and was a daughter of William Gray. Mr. and Mrs. Haefele had six children, five living-Sarah F., born June 5, 1857, married William H. Garrett of Mill Shoals Township; Elizabeth, born Feb. 22, 1859, married Adam Johnson, and resides a mile north of Liberty, in Wayne County, Ill .; Mary A., born Aug. 31, 1861, married David K. Felix, Jr., of Barn Hill Township, Wayne Co., Ill .; Martha M., born June 11, 1864; John J., born July 1, 1866. Mrs. Haefele died June 15, 1868. Mr. Haefele then married Prudence Reeves, Dec. 2, 1868. She was born in Burnt Prairie Township, Dec. 2, 1834, and was a daughter of Jeremiah and Julia (Horton) Reeves, old settlers of White County. Mr. and Mrs. Haefele had two children-Christian B., born Oct. 27, 1872, died Jan. 4, 1877; Charles E., born Ang. 27, 1875. Mrs. Haefele is a member of the Cumberland Presby- terian church. Mr. Haefele is a Mason, and treasurer of Burnt Prairie Lodge, No. 668, A. F. & A. M. In politics he is a Repub-
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lican, and one of the original Fremont supporters of 1856. In 1871 he was appointed Postmaster of Liberty and held that office until 1875. Reappointed in February, 1880, and still retains that office.
John Hauk was born in Baden, Germany, Dec. 19, 1843. His parents were Frederic and Sabina (Kanzman) Hauk. They had a family of five children, two sons and three daughters, of whom John was the oldest. He attended school until fifteen, and then learned the stone- mason's trade, and when twenty-one he came with his sister (now the wife of Phillip Stoke, residing in Burnt Prairie Township) to America, landing in New York, and came to St. Louis and worked at his trade three months; then came to White County and worked in Carmi five years. He built himself a house and built the first house in Stumptown. In 1871 he traded his house and lot for a farm of eighty acres in Burnt Prairie Township, where he still resides. He now owns a fine farm of 160 acres, 130 under cultivation. Mr. Hauk married Phillepena Ap- pel Sept. 16. 1869. She was born in Baden, Germany, and was a daughter of George and Sophia Appel. They have four children -Phillepena, Caroline, Elizabeth and George. Mr. and Mrs. Hauk are members of the Evangelical church. In politics Mr. Hauk is a Republican.
John B. Holmes, one of the proprietors of the Liberty grist-mill, was born in Barn Hill Township, three miles south of Fairfield, Wayne Connty, July 8, 1827. His parents were Zephaniah and Mary A. (Harland) Holmes. His father was a native of Maine, and when a young man emigrated to Kentucky, where he married. He moved to Wayne County, Ill., in 1824 or 1825, and settled in Barn Hill Township. He had a family of two sons and two daugh- ters. J. B. was the second son and third child. When he was two years old his father died. His mother married Anthony Cox, and they had two sons and two daughters. J. B. remained with his mother until thirteen, when he went to work for David W. Wright on a farm, and took his first lessons in milling. In June, 1846, Mr. Holmes enlisted in Captain Campbell's company, Sec- ond Illinois Infantry, and served one year in the Mexican war. He then returned to Wayne County, and soon after came to White County. June 13, 1847, he married Clesten Johnston, a native of Virginia, and a daughter of Adam Johnston, a farmer who came to White County, Ill., at an early day, settling in Burnt Prairie Township. After his marriage he and his brother traded their
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land warrants for land in Wayne County; remained there until 1852, when he sold his farm and returned to Burnt Prairie Town- ship, and leased the Jessup's Ferry on the Skillet Fork, where the Sumpter bridge now is, and remained until the spring of 1854. He then went to Enfield and bought ten acres of land joining the vil- lage on the south. This ten acres is now in the best part of the town. Mr. Holmes followed carpentering here; built the first house in Enfield. In 1856 he went to Scottsville and fol- lowed carpentering antii 1858. when he moved to Grayville and worked in a furniture factory. In the meantime he had learned to run an engine, and in 1860 was employed as engineer in the Eagle Mill in Grayville at $1 a day and the privilege of running a turning lathe. He made some of the first wooden sorghum crush- ers; remained in this mill with Mr. William Michels until 1862, when he was employed at Empire Mill as exchange agent, where he soon after became miller; remained here until 1866, and then he took charge of a new mill at Enfield, owned by the Orr Brothers; remained in charge of this mill until 1870, when he went to Gray- ville and opened the Grayville hotel. From March to July, 1871, he ran the water-mill for Scott & Pulleyblank. He was then em- ployed to run the Empire Mills for Kerry, Stuart & Lanterman, at $1,000 per year for ten years. He then left the mill in charge of his son Frank, who still runs it. Mr. Holmes returned to En- field and went into partnership with his old employers, the Orr Brothers, and bought out the Veach Brothers' mill, and Orr Broth- ers & Holmes ran these mills until Sept. 26, 1881, when he dis- solved partnership with Orr Brothers, and brought one mill to Liberty, the first steam mill in this place. It is a three-story and basement building, and complete in every particular. This mill has a forty-five horse-power engine, iron tank and doctor for feed water, rubber hose for water, and all latest improvements belong- ing to engine and boiler for flouring mill. Two sets of 36-inch burrs for wheat, one 30-inch under runner for corn, pony stone and steel rollers for new-process flour purifier, and 516-inch bolt reels, and two fine bolt chests containing six reels, covered with the finest bolting cloth used in flouring mills. He manufactures three fine grades of flour, A, B and C, all flour branded with the cross flags, with the name of Liberty underneath. Mr. and Mrs. Holmes had nine children-Zephaniah, born March 16, 1848, (married Sarah Westfall), died Dec. S, 1$70; John S., born Feb. 5,
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