USA > Illinois > Livingston County > The History of Livingston County, Illinois : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c. > Part 94
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DANIEL BLAKE, farmer, Sec. 1 ; P. O. Pontiac ; owns 188 acres, valned at $45 per.acre ; born in Monroe Co., Ohio, Dec. 16, 1838; resided there until 14 years of
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age; came, with his parents, to La Salle Co. about the year 1852; remained there one year ; then came to this county. Mar- ried Desaline Earp May 28, 1862; she was born in this county Ang. 18, 1841 ; have had ten children, six of whom are now living-Charles William, born Jan. 18, 1863; John Ellsworth, born Sept. 23, 1864; Manda May, born Feb. 28, 1867, died when 10 months old; Henry, born Sept. 14, 1868, died when 3 weeks old; Frances Gertrude, born Oct. 25, 1869 ; Theron, born March 31, 1871; Sarah El- len, born March 18, 1873; Ezekias and Josias (twins), born Nov. 28, 1875, died in infancy ; Ida Pearl, born Jan. 6, 1877.
GEORGE E. BENNITT, farmer ; P. O. Pontiac ; owns 108 acres ; born Nov. 9, 1848 ; his father, Thomas S. Bennitt, was one of the early settlers ; he was born in New York State, Jan. 31, 1822 ; he came to Illinois in 1850; resided in Kane and Kendall counties about seventeen years, then removed to this county, settling in Rook's Creek Township, where he died March 12, 1872. He was married Aug. 4, 1842, to Mary Brown ; she was born in New York, March 7, 1821 ; is living, and resides with the subject of this sketch. Mr. B. is one of nine children, only three of whom are now living-Cora Bell, born March 29, 1858; Willy H., born May 13, 1862; those deceased are Grant Bennitt, died Oct. 28, 1864 ; Clary E., died Jan. 8, 1868 ; Emily Gertrude, died Dec. 8, 1870 ; Anna, died Feb. 29, 1872; Cynthia M. (married to C. Atwood), died May 26, 1872; Green Bennitt, died April 19, 1867.
SAMUEL EARP, farmer and stock raiser, Sec. 4; P. O. Pontiac. Non-secta- rian ; Independent. Owns 380 acres of land, valued at $40 per acre ; born in Colum- biana Co., Ohio, May 31, 1829; came to this county in 1856; settled on the place where he now resides in 1861. Married Caroline Earp May 13, 1858 ; she was born in Ohio Feb. 18, 1834 ; have no children. Held office of Road Commissioner two terms ; also two terms Supervisor. Mr. E. had a brother, Charles W. Earp, who served during the late war in the 57th I. V. I .; he died the 15th day of December, 1868, from disease contracted in the army.
JESSE GREEN, farmer; P. O. Pon- tiac. Methodist ; Independent. Owns 196
acres, valued at $40 ; born in Northamp- tonshire, England, Nov. 25, 1829 ; resided there until. 1852; then emigrated to this country, settling in Bloomington ; land at that time could be bought near the latter place for $1.25 per acre. Married in En- gland to Esther Haddon, April 13, 1852; it was the next month (May) that he emi- grated to this country ; had two children by that union, both now living-George E., the eldest, resides at home, unmarried ; the second child, Martha Jeanette, is married to Jacob Gilman and resides in Nebraska Township; his first wife died in the Fall of 1857 ; in the Spring of 1858, went across the plains to California in company with Wm. Earp, Henry Jones, James Morrow, Isaac Earl, Robert Earl and others from Pontiac; remained in California three years, then returned to this country. Married Sarah Jane Tanner (widow of Boyd P. Tanner, formerly of the 129th I. V. I., and who died when in the service ; she had two children, a boy and girl-Samuel B. and Ann Maria) Jan. 26, 1864 ; have three children, all living- Marietta, John T., William Jesse.
GEORGE B. GRAY, farmer and stock dealer; P. O. Pontiac; owns 640 acres, valued at $40 per acre. Non-secta- rian ; Republican. Born Oct. 3, 1834, in Livingston Co., N. Y .; he removed with his parents, when 3 years old, to Or- leans Co. ; resided there twenty years. Married Mattie A. Boynton Nov. 19, 1857; she was born June 15, 1835, in Orleans Co., N. Y .; have only one child -Nellie A., born Sept. 16, 1863. Mr. G. removed to this State in 1858, and settled where he now resides; his farm at that time was in a state of nature, all im- provements having been put on by him- self; at the present time about 300 acres are under the plow ; the balance is in past- ure and meadow. Has held various town offices ; is at present a member of the Leg- islature of this State; was elected to the Thirtieth General Assembly in Nov. 1876, receiving 6,884 votes, a majority of 1,500 over his opponent. Mr. G. received his education in the common schools, which he attended during the Winter months while living on a farm.
JOHN JOHNSON, farmer; P. O. Pontiac ; owns 220 acres, valued at $40 per acre ; born in Ontario Co., N. Y.,
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Feb. 14, 1804 ; he removed with his par- ents, when quite an infant, to Erie Co., N. Y. ; remained there until he was 16 years of age, then removed, with his parents, to this State ; settled on the place where he now resides in 1833, where he has resided ever since ; the first twenty years of his residence he was engaged in wagon making in connection with farming. He was mar- ried in Sangamon Co., this State, March 17, 1825, to Nancy Bloyd; she was born in Maryland, Oct. 25, 1805 ; when she was 1 year old, she removed to " Ky." with her parents ; remained there until she was 15 years old, when she came with her par- ents to Sangamon Co., this State; have had ten children born to them, six of whom are living-the oldest, William, was born Jan. 2, 1826; he served nearly four and one-half years in the 29th I. V. I .. during the late war ; John, born Sept. 1. 1827, died Jan. 30, 1853; Lydia, born Oct. 6, 1829 ; she married William Cherry, who went to California in 1859, in com- pany with the subject of this sketch ; Eliz- abeth, born Dec. 19, 1831; she married Benj. Blue ; he died in 1872 ; Henry, born . Jan, 5, 1834 ; he served over four years in the 3d Ill. Cav., during the late war ; Eleanor, born Sept 9, 1836, died when 14 months old; Oliver, born Aug. 30, 1838; he served about two years in the 17th Ill. Cav., during the late war; Amanda Mel- vina, born April 5, 1841; died April 21, 1873; Stephen, born Sept. 14, 1843; he served eighteen months during the late war in the 129th 1. V. I .; Lucinda, born March 4, 1846; died Aug. 26, 1838. Mr. J. served one term Justice of the Peace; was the first Collector in the town ; held office of School Director. Mr. J. is the oldest settler.
STEPHEN A. JOHNSON, farmer ; P. O. Pontiac ; born Sept. 14, 1843 ; lived at home with his parents until he was 19 years of age; then went in the army. After the war, married India Sellman, June 17, 1866 ; she was born in Brown Co., Ohio, July 18, 1847 ; have four children-Edwin, born Feb. 9, 1868 ; John Henry, born Oct. 10, 1869; Stephen A., born Nov. 15, 1871 ; Sherman, born Nov. 2, 1875. Mr. J. was in the 129th I. V. I. nine months ; discharged on account of disability ; in 1864, joined the 44th I. V. I. ; served about ten months; was in the fight at
Spring Hill, and the battles of Franklin and Nashville ; (the two oldest were born in Iowa, the third in Kansas, the fourth here). Mr. J. removed to Iowa the next Spring after his marriage; in Iowa about three and one-half years, farming; then to Kansas, where he remained four years, during which time he was engaged in bridge building on the Kansas Pacific Railroad ; returned to this county in July, 1874, since which time he has been work- ing his father's farm. Mrs. Johnson's father (John Sellman ) was in the war of 1812 ; he died in Rook's Creek Township, Oct. 22, 1874, aged 80 years, 8 months and 20 days.
MATTHIAS NEIFING, farmer, S. 14; P. O. Pontiac. Catholic; Democrat. Owns 215 acres, valued at $40 ; born in Ger- many Jan. 4, 1816 ; came to this country 1846; settled in Chicago that year ; re- mained seven years: then went to Peoria; was there seven years ; then to De Witt Co. seven years ; then came here and settled where he now resides. Married in Ger- many, Aug. 20, 1843, to Anna Stannbangh ; she was born in Germany Feb. 19, 1821 ; have had thirteen children, eleven living- Anna, Emma, John, Mary. Frank, Nick, Kate, Ellen, Matthias, William and Eliza- beth ; those that died were named Joc I. and Mary Ann. Mr. N. has held office of School Director.
THOMAS RYERSON, farmer ; P. O. Cornell ; was born in Stavanger, Norway, in 1834 : in 1855, came to America, locat- ing in La Salle Co., near Otter Creek, liv- ing there about twelve years. During this time he was in the army, enlisting in 1862, in Co. F, 104th Ill. Vols .; he was wounded in the hip at the battle of Hartswell, and soon after was mustered out ou account of wounds. In 1866, came to Amity Tp., but moved in 1875, on to land owned by him in Rook's Creek ; he owns 224 acres of land, valued at $35 per acre. He mar- ried Elizabeth Larson in La Salle Co. in 1862; she was born in Stavanger, Norway, in 1843; they have had eight children, six living-R. Lewis, Annie (deceased), Caroline A. (deceased), Anna Bell, Theo- dore, Oliver M. S., R. Adolph and Leon- ard M.
C. E. SHELTON, farmer and stock buyer; P. O. Pontiac. Non-sectarian ; Democrat. Owns 240 acres, valued at
12
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
$30 per acre ; born near Hartford, Conn., May 3, 1833 ; removed with his parents to New York State when 2 years old; at the age of 12 years went with his parents to Ohio. Married in that State to Roxana Bills ; she was born in Ohio ; |
came to this State in 1863, and settled where he now resides ; been engaged in the business of farming and stock buying ever since ; they have four children-Lo- renzo, Smith, Fred. and Frank. Held office of Supervisor one term.
EPPARD'S POINT TOWNSHIP.
OSHOM ASHLEY, farmer; P. O. Ocoya. Republican. Has 160 acres of land on Sec. 7, valued at $50 per acre ; he was born in Barnard, Windsor Co., Vt., Jan. 24, 1844, and came to this county in 1868. He has no family. He has a very fine farm, very well improved, which he rents, and spends his time in other business ; he has been Justice of the Peace for several years, and to a large degree has the confi- dence of his neighbors and the vicinity generally.
ANDREW COTREL, farmer ; P. O. McDowell. Democrat. Has 221 acres of land on Sec. 1 ; he was born in Montgom- ery Co., Ohio, May 24, 1830; came to Michigan in 1833; to Joliet, Ill., in 1836 ; to Wilmington in 1839, and to this county in 1848. He married Adaline Ulery, in 1860; she died in 1873; they had four children-Ephraim C., Sarah, William A. and Edgar I. His present wife was Mary Brooks; they were married in Aug., 1874, and have one child-Lura; she also had one when they were married-Thomas Brooks. Mr. C. is an excellent farmer ; has one of the very best farms, and is one of the most independent men in town.
JOHN E. GREEN, farmer ; P. O. Mc- Dowell. National ; M. E. Church. Has 180 acres of land on See. 12, valued at $50 per acre ; he was born in Northampton- shire, England, Oct. 9, 1833, and came to this country in 1857, stopping in McLean Co. two years. He married Eliza Warren, in England, Feb. 16, 1855; she was born Feb. 11, 1833; they have six children --- Adaline M .. Nancy C., Elizabeth H., Jes- se J., Charles W., Cyrus R. Mr. G. is one of the early settlers on this prairie ; has made an excellent farm ; has a very fine residence and splendid improvements, and is a very skillful farmer. He is a very successful man, very enterprising in every
thing that improves mankind, and is de- serving of what hard work and good man- agement bring him.
JOHN D. JUMP, farmer; P. O. Weston, MeLean Co. ; Republican ; Meth- odist. Hlas eighty acres of land on Sec. 33, valued at $50 per acre; he was born in Greene Co., N. Y., July 23, 1835, and came to Marshall Co. in 1858, and to this county in Fall of 1867. He married El- vira Leigh, Jan. 10, 1861 ; she was born in Tazewell Co., Ill., Aug. 8, 1840 ; they have five children-Marietta, Frederick M., Flora B., Myra E. and Clinton Leigh. Mr. J. is one of the young, intelligent, en- terprising men of the town, very active in his business, a good farmer and esteemed neighbor, and a worthy, consistent Method- ist ; he has a good farm well-improved.
JAMES KIRKPATRICK, farmer; P. O. Pontiac. Republican ; Independent. Has 160 acres of land on See. 23, valued at $45 per acre; he was born in Brown Co., Ohio, May 20, 1829, and came to this county in 1862, and to this farm in 1875. He married Mary A. L. Collins, of Brown Co., Ohio, March 23, 1852; she was born in Brown Co., Oct. 8, 1836 ; they have one son living-James Kirkiume, born July 9, 1868 ; they lost their daughter, Allice Bell, in 1869; they have raised the orphan daughter of Ira' and Pamelia Loveless- Carrie M., born Oct. 8, 1859. Mr. K. is a very prosperous farmer ; has a fine farm, and is engaged largely in the stock and hog business. He is one of the leading enter- prising men of the county.
JOHN W. LAYCOCK, farmer; P. O. Pontiac ; Republican ; Methodist. Has a farm near Pontiac, and a residence in town. and lives on Sec. - , in this township; he was born in Brown Co., Ohio, May 27, 1827, and came to this county in July, 1867, and bought his farm and lived
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on it until 1877, when he sold a part of it and moved to this place. He married Helena Ann Kay, Jan. 13, 1853 ; she was born in Brown Co., Nov. 14, 1834 ; they have four children-John K., Levi M .. Joana M. and Jarusha V. ; John K. is a fine scholar and an experienced teacher, also has a fine talent for portrait painting ; Levi M. is also qualifying for teaching. Mr. L. is a very deserving, intelligent citizen ; has a very intelligent family.
JUDGE ELI MYER (deceased), was one of the pioneers in the county. He was a Republican and Baptist. Was born in Alleghany Co., Md., Oct. 18, 1796, and came to Licking Co., Ohio, in 1832, and to this place October 25, 1850. He married Mary McDaniel, in Maryland; she died in 1829, leaving four children-Margaret, Samuel, John and Martin H. ; Samuel and John died young ; Margaret and Martin H. both married and lived several years near Ocoya, and died leaving families ; his second wife was Catharine Umphenour, and was married in 1831, in Maryland ; they had eight children-Emily. William A., Joseph E, Matilda, Benjamin F., Samuel G., Charles F. and Nelson J. ; Emily was born in Maryland, and Nelson in this county. Mr. M. died Dec. 30, 1868, aged 72 ; Mrs. M. died June 2, 1875, aged 66 years. Judge M. left a farm of 477 acres, a part of which was the first quarter section of prairie entered at the Grove in the town- ship ; he was among the first settlers in this town, and very soon he became well known throughout the county; he was elected Treasurer of the township when he first came into it, and held the office as long as he lived ; he held also the office of Supervisor for several terms, and was also Associate Judge for several years ; he was a man of strict integrity, and was uni- versally esteemed.
W.M. A. MYER, farmer ; P. O. Weston ; Republican. Has 332 acres of land on Secs. 27 and 22, valued at $40 per acre ; he was born in Licking Co., Ohio, Dee. 31, 1833, and came to this county with his father, Judge Eli Myer, in 1850. He married Eliza St. John, April 21, 1859 ; she was born in Indiana, June 25, 1838, and died Nov. 15, 1872, leaving four children-Rosa O., Margaret C., Seth E. and Samuel G .; three died in infancy.
Mr. M. is still a widower ; Mr. M. is a very successful farmer ; has an excellent farm, and is a reliable, genial and kind man and citizen.
SAMUEL G. MYER, farmer ; P. O. Ocoya. Republican. Has 120 acres of land on Sec. 29, valued at $50 per acre ; he was born in Licking Co., Ohio, July 26, 1844, and came to this place in Oeto- ber, 1850, with his father, Judge Eli Myer. He married Ada C. St. John, daughter of Samuel St. John, Feb. 11, 1869; they have three children-Joseph G., Cora R. and Scott. Mr. M. came here when a boy, and carly learned the impor- tance of work in transforming the prairie into cultivated farms; he has succeeded well, and has a fine farm and home, with excellent improvements.
CHAS. F. MYER, farmer; P. O. Ocoya. Republican. Has 100 acres of land on Sec. 29, the old homestead of Judge Myer ; he was born in Licking Co., Ohio, Feb. 7, 1847, and came with his father to this county in 1850. Ife married Lizzie C. Wagoner, daughter of Wm. A. Wagoner, Esq., Nov. 15, 1877 ; she was born in Wayne Co., Ind., Nov. 17, 1854. Mr. Myer owns the old homestead which Judge Myer first settled ; it is the first prairie farm located in the town, and is a very fine farm. Mr. M. is a good farmer, au intelligent, enterprising young man, and is worthy and deserving of his home and the position in society he oecu- pies.
BENJAMIN F. MYER, farmer, P. O. Ocoya. Republican. Has 183 acres of land on Sec. 20, valued at $50 per acre ; he was born in Licking Co., Ohio, Oct. 18, 1841, and came here with his father, Judge Eli Myer, in 1850. He married Sophronia E. Macy, of this township, July 28, 1872 ; she was born in Rush Co., Ind., Dec. 11, 1852 ; they have two children, living-Edgar Lee and Charles R .; Freddie F. died when two months old. Mr. M. is one of the enterprising young men of the town, has a beautiful farm and pleasantly situated; he was brought up to habits of industry ; has grown up here from a boy, and knows well the disadvantages of settling a new country ; he is Highway Commissioner for the town, and is well qualified for the po- sition.
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JOSEPH E. MYER, farmer; P. O. Ocova. Republican. Has 240 acres of land on Sec. 22, valued at $40 per acre; he was born in Licking Co., Ohio, Sept. 28, 1836, and came to this county with his father, Judge Eli Myer, in 1850. He married Ruth Ann St. John, of this town- ship, Aug. 19, 1869; she died Nov. 17, 1870. Mr. M. has a very fine farm under good cultivation ; he rents out his farm and attends to other business. He was in the 129th Regt. Ill. Vols .; was wounded in front of Atlanta, and now receives a pension ; he is one of the reliable men of the town, and it is not too much to say that himself as well as all the Judge's sons are striving to follow his father's example for honesty and a good name.
NELSON J. MYER, farmer ; P. O. Ocoya. Republican ; M. E. Church. Has 90 acres of land on Sec. 21, valued at $50 per acre; he was born in this town- ship July 30, 1851. He married Helen E. McElhiney Dec. 17, 1871; she was born in LaFayette Co., Wis., Feb. 21, 1856; they have one child-Wm. J., born Nov. 1, 1872. Mr. M. is the youngest son of Judge Myer ; has a good farm, well situa- ted. He is a very active man in church and school matters, and is universally re- spected.
REUBEN MACY, farmer and grain dealer ; P. O. Ocoya. Republican; Baptist. Was born in Randolph Co., N. C., July 22, 1812, and came with his father (Wm. Macy, who was a descendant of the first white inhabitant on the island of Nan- tucket) to Union Co., Ind., in 1818, and remained there until he came to Woodford Co., in 1853, and to this place in May, 1856. He married Maria Gardner, of Union Co., Ind., April 29, 1835 ; she was born in Guilford Co., N. C., April 13, 1815; they have four children living- Lucetta, Mary Allena, Sophronia E. and Charles E. ; they lost two at 14, and three died in infancy. Mr. M. bought this vil- lage plat, started a store, built an elevator, engaged in the grain business, was Station Agent and Postmaster, and was Supervisor for many years. In 1875, he traded off his town property for 230 acres of land north of the railroad. He was engaged in teaching for many years, and even now, in his old age, his zeal in the cause of educa- tion has never abated. He is a devoted
member of the Baptist Church, a very zealous temperance man, and was one of the earliest anti-slavery workers ; he has earned a name for honesty and integ- rity among his neighbors worth living for.
JOHN T. MCCLINTOCK, farmer ; P. O. Chenoa. Democrat and Presbyterian. Has a farm of cighty-eight acres of fine land ; was born in Nicholas Co., Ky., Sept. 19, 1819, and came to Ohio in 1824, and to Johnson, Co., Ind., in 1846, and to Tazewell Co. in 1854, and in 1868, he came to this place. He' married Jane H. Sharpe, for his first wife, who died seven months afterward. His second wife was Angeline G. Eccles, daughter of Col. Sam- uel Eccles, of Kentucky, whom he married Dec. 26, 1850 ; they had two children-S. Jennie, and Mary Gertrude ; Jennie died when 9 years old, and Mary at 16 months. Mr. McC. has been very much out of health for many years, so he rents his farm and spends his time in reading, attending his garden and improving his grounds by setting out trees ; his front yard and gar- den has some forty different kinds of trees, rendering it one of the very beautiful homes in the country ; Mr. McC. is not rich, yet has enough, with his contentment of mind, for all he needs ; he is universally respected, and his wife, being a very ex- cellent Christian woman, beloved by all : they seem to comprehend the real mission of life " enjoyment," and have it. He has been a very faithful School Treasurer for some nine years.
J. H. NICHOLS, farmer; P. O. McDowell. Republican ; Independent. Has 160 acres of land on Sec. 13, valued at $40 per acre ; was born in Columbia Co., N. Y., May 31, 1836, and came to La Salle Co., in 1845, and to this place in 1875. He married Emeline Howland in La Salle Co., in 1865; she was born in Wayne Co., N. Y., Aug. 27, 1841, and came to this State in 1844; they have three children -Lydia, Polly and Letty. Mr. N. is emphatically a self-made man ; he commenced while a boy without money or an education ; has worked at various things to get a start ; has obtained a good education, taught school, bought and im- proved a fine farin, and is one of the real substantial men of the county, and has the confidence of all who know him.
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S. L. PAYNE, farmer ; P. O. Chenoa. Democrat. Ilas 678 acres of land, valued at $50 per acre; he was born in Orange Co., N. Y., Jan. 29, 1811, and moved to Cin- cinnati, Ohio, in 1813, and to Ohio Co., Ind., in 1818, and to Vermilion Co .. Ill., in 1830, and to this place in 1852. He married Charity Reynolds in Fall of 1832; she died in the Winter of 1850, and left five children - Thomas J., John Davis, Martin O., Welthy A. and Harriet E. ; Martin O. contracted a disease while in the army, of which he died some time after his return home. He married for his second wife, Margaret A. Craycraft, in the Fall of 1850; they had six children-Alber- tine. Florence H., Margaret E .. Matilda A., Lucy E. and Fanny. He married for his third wife Mrs. Eliza Burkey, in 1871. Mr. Payne is one of the representative men of the town and county ; was one of the pioneers ; has been one of the very suc- cessful farmers ; has one of the very best farms about the point, and a very beautiful residence and situation ; he is a very intel- ligent and enterprising man, and has made his large property by his own industry and good management.
JOHN ST. JOHN (deceased ), farmer ; P.O.Chenoa. Republican ; Methodist. Had 400 acres of land ou Sec: 30, valued at $50 per acre ; he was born in Clarke Co., Ohio, in March 29, 1819, and came to this county and farmed November, 1847. He married Emily Carswell, in Warren Co., Ind., June 17, 1841 ; she was born in Butler Co., Ohio, Jan. 17, 1819; they have seven daughters living-Sarah J., Mattie A., Rhoda E., Emma M., Tillie, Laura E, and Ida ; their son Joseph died March 22, 1859. Mr. St. John died Aug. 27, 1874, aged 55 years. Mr. St. John came here in limited circumstances ; bought his farm, and very few men improved their time to a better advantage; he made his m nay (and we may say his friends ) by attending to his own business, being a kind neigh- bor and an obliging friend ; he left his large property to his widow; she is to divide it with her children at her discretion.
J. S. THOMAS, farmer; P. O. Mc- Dowell. Republican ; Christian (New Light ). Has forty acres of land on Sec. 1, valued at $40 per acre; he was born in Madison Co., Ohio. Aug. 14, 1831, and came to White Co., Ind. in 1851, and to
this place in 1865. Ile married Martha M. Howder, of Pontiac, July, 1865 ; she was born in Ohio, Sept. 27, 1833; they have five children-J. Alneda, Ulyssus Smalley, Mary, Cicero L. and Jenn . M. Mr. T. is the son of the late Rev. J. Thomas, and is a very excellent man, a fine farmer, and has a good home.
REV. JOSEPH THOMAS was born in Grayson Co., Va., Nov. 4, 1815 : he moved into Ohio and remained there for many years, and in 1864 came to this State ; he organized the Christian ( New Light ) Church in Pontiae, and preached in it for several years. He was a man of good natural talent ; he died in Oct., 1873, sud- denly, mourned by all.
W. H. WAGENER, farmer; P. O. McDowell. Independent ; Disciples. Has 110 acres of land on Sec. 1, valued at $75 per acre ; he was born in Morgan Co., Va., Nov. 19, 1819. and came to Montgomery Co., Ohio, in 1831, and to this place in 1857. He married Mary Ann Neal, in Miami Co., Ohio, March 25, 1849; she was born June 26, 1829, and died Feb. 24, 1871 ; he has seven children living (lost three)-Mornilva C., Eldred A., Mary F., Emma Z., Addie, Cyntha U. and Jessie B. He married for his second wife, Mary H. Moore Harding, Dec. 26, 1874 ; she was born in Erie Co., Penn., June 17, 1828. Mrs. W. has two daughters-May and Josephine, both married; May has a daughter who lives with her grandmother, Mrs. W .; Rachel. born in Owego, N. Y., Jan. 15, 1871. Mr. W. has one of the pleasantest homes and best farms of the county ; he has always been one of the leading men of the county and town : has always been foremost in all laudable enter- prises ; was Justice of the Peace for sev- eral terms ; was one of the first to organize a county fair. He left Virginia because he was naturally opposed to slavery, and sinee he came to this county he was one of three who voted the first Abolition ticket ; he has always voted for principles and men, rather than party. He is universally re- spected.
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