USA > Illinois > Livingston County > The History of Livingston County, Illinois : containing a history of the county, its cities, towns, &c. > Part 96
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A. P. LA CLAIR, merchant, Strawn ; was born in Naperville, Du Page Co., Ill., Jan. 1, 1853; he is the son of A. P. and Adaline La Clair; at the age of seven years he lost his father by death, and two years later was bereft of his mother ; after the death of his mother he went to live with Willard Scott, then a prominent mer- chant and now a banker of Naperville ; here most of his boyhood days and the years of his early manhood were spent, attending school and clerking in the store ; in November, 1875, he came to Strawn and engaged in merchandising; he owns an interest in considerable town property in Aurora, Kane Co., and a half interest in the building and lot at his place of busi- ness at Strawn. Democrat ; Congrega- tional. He possesses fine business qualities, is social and agreeable in his bearing toward all, and does the leading business of the town in dry goods and groceries ; his patronage is large and growing.
H. C. LIST, blacksmith, Strawn ; the subject of this sketch was born in Taze- well Co, Ill., Jan. 5, 1843 ; he engaged in farming until 24 years of age; March 4, 1866, he entered the shop of Ben. Tobias, at Washington, Ill., to learn his trade ; in October, 1869, he worked in Eurcka,
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Woodford Co., in the employ of Fred. Darling; thence he went to Gilman and remained one year and three months ; he next located in Forrest and remained two years ; December, 1874, he went to El Paso. and Nov. 5, 1875, he opened a shop at Strawn, his present place of business ; Mr. List is a fine workman, and is fast building up a large and lucrative trade. He is independent, both in politics and re- ligion. List's Hall, located above his shop, is the only room in the village occupied for public entertainments ; it is also used by the M. E. Church for a place of worship.
PETER J. PIESTER, merchant, Strawn; the subject of this sketch was born in Columbia Co., N. Y., July 9, 1836; at the age of twelve, he went with the family to Onondaga Co .; in 1858, he came West, and remained in Chicago a few months. engaged in collecting for steam towing tugs; in the Fall of 1858, came to Indian Grove, Livingston Co., and improved eighty acres of land; in 1861, he engaged in the manufacture of sorghum ; realizing no profit from the manufacture and sale of it, he abandoned the enterprise at the close of the first season; in 1862, sold his farm, and rented in the vicinity of Indian Grove; in 1863, bought quarter section and improved it ; in 1864, sold half of farm, and removed to Chenoa, McLean Co .: in the Spring of 1865, engaged in hedge-growing. cultivating from five to ten acres ; followed it four years in succession, and was very successful ; in 1869, bought 160 acres south of Weston, which he now owns ; in the Spring of 1877, he left the farm, and came to Strawn, forming a co- partnership with R. A. Hamilton for the purchase and sale of dry goods and gro- ceries; he was married May 17, 1863, to Amanda Hamilton, a native of Ohio; has an adopted daughter-Lola Piester ; owns 160 acres in Yates Tp., McLean Co. Is a Methodist and a Republican ; has held office in Yates Tp. three years, and been School Director in Fayette for the past three or four years. Though recently established, the firm of Piester & Hamilton has a large and growing patronage.
WHIT READ, grain and lumber mer- chant, Strawn ; was born in Jefferson Co., N. Y., Sept. 8, 1839 ; he remained with his parents until his majority, assist- ing on the farm Summers and attending
school Winters. In August, 1862, he en- listed in Co. H, 10th N. Y. Heavy Artil- lery, and served three years ; participating in the hotly contested battles of the Wil- derness and Cold Harbor, first attack on Petersburg, June 15, 1864, and at the mine explosion in front of Petersburg July 30, 1864; his regiment was with Gen. Phil. Sheridan, in the campaign up the Shenandoah Valley ; at the close of the campaign, the regiment was ordered to Richmond, and aided in forcing Gen. Lee from his intrenchments; on Gen. Lee's evacuation and retreat, it was detailed to do provost duty at Petersburg; he was discharged July 7, 1865. On his return from the army, he engaged in sailing on the lakes, transporting grain from Chicago to Buffalo, Oswego, and other points ; in 1869, came to Stark Co., Ill., and engaged in farming; in 1871, came to Livingston Co., and farmed two years ; in 1873, moved to Strawn, acting as agent for Hoyt & Bee- be, in the grain and lumber business ; in July, 1874, Messrs. Read & Fisher bought out Hoyt & Beebe, and commenced opera- tions for themselves ; since that date, D. R. Morgan having purchased the interest of Mr. Fisher, the firm of Read & Morgan, as it now exists, was formed. He was married Jan. 12, 1869, to Frank Graves, a native of New York State ; has two chil- dren-Bertha and Frank. Is a Repub- lican; has held the office of Justice of the Peace, Township Clerk, and School Di- rector. Theirs is the leading firm of the vil- lage, handling from 150,000 to 200,000 bushels of corn annually.
EDWARD H. ROBERTS, merchant, Strawn; was born in Delaware Co., Ohio, Nov. 6, 1841 ; his parents came to Ohio from Pennsylvania; his father died when he was six years of age ; he remained with his mother working on the farm. until Sept. 9. 1861, when he enlisted in the 20th Regiment O. V. I., and served to the close of the rebellion. On returning from the war, he came to Lee 'Co., Ill., and remained there two years ; in the Fall of 1867, he came to Livingston Co .. and opened up and improved a farm in Chats- worth Tp. ; in 1872, disposed of his farm, and on June 3, 1873, the day on which the village of Strawn was laid out, was on the ground, and had the first choice of lots ; he chose a lot on the north side of the
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FAYETTE TOWNSHIP.
Public Square, on which to erect a business | Ill., five terms ; his father was possessed of house for the sale of hardware; his was the first business enclosed. and he sold the first merchandise that ever was sold in Strawn over a counter ; he has been Post- master of the village ever since the office was established. Was married Dec. 31, 1869, to Eliza M. Moore, a native of Ohio; has three children-Jane M., Albert J., Harry A. He is a Methodist, and a Re- publican. Is at present a member of the firm of Aaron, Roberts & Co.
J. C. RICHCREEK, grain merchant, Strawn ; was born in Coshocton Co., Ohio, June 11, 1845 ; in 1864, his father came West, and located in Edgar Co., Ill., where he still resides; at the age of 20, young Richcreek engaged in teaching school, his father giving him his time; in 1867, he left home, traveling South and West, through a number of the States, going West with a view of buying land ; in the Winter of 1870, he located with Mr. L. Sullivant, as foreman on the north half of his farm, lying in Ford and Livingston Cos., Ill .; this farm, known as Burr Oaks farm, consisted of sixty-four adjoining sections ; he superintended the thirty-two north sec- tions, having direct personal supervision of everything necessary to the successful farming of the same; the acreage of corn on his part was from eight to nine thousand ; in Sullivant's employ he remained six years ; in 1875, he removed to Strawn, and en- graged in his present business; in the Spring of 1877, he added to his former business that of handling agricultural im- plements. Married Sept. 21, 1874, to Wilhelmina Kantaug, a native of Ger- many ; has one child-Emery H., born Sept. 5, 1875. Republican. Handles dur- ing the season from thirty-five to forty thousand bushels of corn and from eight to ten thousand bushels of oats.
WALTER D. STRAWN, farmer and stock dealer ; P. O. Strawn ; the subject of this sketch was born in South Ottawa Tp., La Salle Co., Ill., Aug. 1, 1850 ; he is the son of David and Sarah ( Loyd) Strawn ; besides the advantages enjoyed in the com- mon schools for obtaining an education, he attended the Model Department of the State Normal School, located at Normal,
large means, and in an early day in this section of country, bought a large tract of land from speculators, in what is now Fay- ette and Germantown Tps .; at one time he owned in one tract 4,370 acres ; through the influence and energy of his father. mainly, the C. & P. R. R. was built, he having taken one-fifth interest in the same ; he took the contract to grade sixty miles of the road, extending from Fairbury to Be- ment, and, April 1, 1873, young Strawn came to Livingston Co. to superintend the work on the railroad, and engaged in open- ing up the farm ; he located on his present farm Feb. 23, 1876. He was married Sept 8, 1875, to Florence May Parr, a na- tive of La Salle Co .; has one child-Flor- ence Pearl, born Dec. 23, 1876. Repub- lican. Owns 670 acres, valued at $50 per acre. During the season he handles from 200 to 300 head of cattle and a large amount of hogs ; he superintends largely his father's vast estate, lying adjacent to his own home.
STACY STEPHENS, physician and surgeon, Strawn ; was born in Greene Co., Penn , March 13, 1834; his father lived to the age of 86, having resided on the farm where he died sixty-five years ; he re- mained at home until nearly his majority , in 1854, came to Illinois and settled near Lone Tree, Bureau Co .; here he remained six years, engaged in farming; in 1860, settled in Reading Tp., Livingston Co., re- maining three years; next settled west of Pontiac, in Rook's Creek Tp .; remained about four years ; in 1867, went to Fair- bury, and commenced the study of medi- cine under the instruction of Drs. Love & Thurber ; for three years he practiced in connection with them, and in 1872, located in Pontiac and opened up a practice alone ; in 1873, about the middle of August, lo- cated at Strawn. Dr. Stephens is the first regular practitioner located in the township and village. Was married Oct. 21, 1859, to Elizabeth A. Henkins, of Pennsylvania; has had eight children-Leonora, Camp- bell, Mary J., John, Addie, Rolla ; de- ceased, Bessie May and Stacy. He has a large practice and has met with the best of success.
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NEBRASKA TOWNSHIP.
JOEL ALLEN, physician, Zookville ; he was born in Jefferson Co., Ill., in 1827, where he resided for twenty eight years; after- ward removed to Logan Co., Ill. In 1862, he enlisted in the 77th I. V. I., being mustered in as Hospital Steward ; in 1865, was promoted to Second Assistant Sur- geon ; at the time of his discharge, he had passed through sixteen battles ; was dis- charged in 1865, and came to Nebraska Tp., Livingston Co., where he now resides. He has been married three times; was married to his first wife, Martha L. Trow- bridge, in 1849, they having had four children-Harden A., Lyda Ann, Laura Belle, Joel Brown ; his wife died in Jan., . 1860 ; on Dee. 6, 1861, he married Emley J. Tromley, having two children-Ger- trude and Jessie Prudence ; after the death of his second wife he married Mary Jane Hallam. Mr. Allen owns, in Sec. 4, 320 acres of land, under good culti- vation and improvements, having three tenants on the land ; valued at $45 per acre ; he has a large and extensive practice extending not only over his own town, but into the adjoining townships, and is respected by all.
T. N. CAMELIN, farmer ; P. O. Zook- ville ; he was born in Ohio, in 1821; he followed farming until 1850. when he re- moved to Tazewell Co., Ill .; in 1854 he came to Livingston Co., and settled where he now resides. He married Mary Coch- ran Nov. 27, 1850; she was born in Pennsylvania, Oct. 22, 1830; they have nine children-Mary E., born Aug. 27, 1851; David, born Oct. 23, 1853; John II., born Aug. 26, 1856 ; William, born March 5, 1859; Hannah F., born April 25, 1861; Jacob H., born Dec. 28, 1863 ; Ida May, born March 21, 1866; Lucy A., born Aug. 18, 1869 ; Retta Bell, born Dec. 18, 1872 ; owns 161-50 - aeres. valued at $45 per acre.
THOMAS CRAWFORD, farmer ; P. O. Dana ; he was born in 1835, in North Ireland ; his parents were of Scotch descent, his father being Adjutant in the British army; in 1856, came to America, but made no permanent location until 1865, when he located where he now resides.
He married Margaret Walsh, at Liverpool, Eng., in 1856 ; she was born in Ireland, in 1832; they have seven children living, two dead-James A. (deceased), Sarah J., Isabella, George W., Maggie, Annis, Lu- ther, Willie (deceased ), and Arthur P .; be owns 240 acres land, valued at $45 per acre, Sec. 6.
JOHN EMBERSON, farmer ; P. O. Zookville ; he was born in 1798, in Town of Castle Wellen, County of Down, Ire- land ; he moved from Ireland, going first to Scotland, thence to England, and from there to Canada, where he resided for twenty years, following his occupation of shoemaker ; he came to Livingston Co., Ill., Nebraska Tp., in 1854. He married Elizabeth Kirkup, in England ; she was born March 12, 1800; they have three children - John, Annie K., and Mary Ann; Annie (now Mrs. Geo. Wilson, in Canada ) ; Mary Ann (now Mrs. William Maine, Minonk, Woodford Co., Ill.) He has 80 aeres on Sec. 3, east half of south- west quarter; also 80 acres on Sec. 4, east half of southeast quarter.
NELSON LOUKS, farmer; P. O. Mi- nonk; he was born in Norfolk Co., Can- ada, in 1830 ; in 1854, he came to Ogle Co., Ill .; after staying there one year, he bought the farm he now owns, and in 1857, re- moved his family also to Livingston Co. He married Margaret S. Settle, at Wal- worth Co .. Wis., in 1856; she was born in Lockport, N. Y., in 1838; they have eight children-James W., born Sept. 24, 1858; Nelson A., born Aug. 23, 1860; Dorotha I., born Jan. 22, 1862; Melissa J., born Jan. 18, 1864; Stephen J., Dec. 22, 1865; Walter G., Oct. 30, 1869; Thomas C., born Dec. 11, 1871; Marga- ret E., born Jan. 20, 1874. He owns 160 acres of land; worth $45 per acre. Has been School Director. Land on Sec. 10.
JAMES MURPHY, farmer; P. O. Minonk ; boru north part of Ireland, in 1822; 1846, came to this country and worked in a shipping office in New York, for three years; he then went to Indiana, where he was in the mercantile trade for about six years ; from there . he moved to
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where he now resides. He married in Grant Co., Ind., Jan. 5, 1853, to Miss Sarah J. Harrington, who was born in Ireland, May 7, 1833; has eight children -James C., born Sept. 5, 1855 ; John A., born Jan. 7, 1857; Eliza J., born March 15, 1860; Sarah M., born Sept. 7, 1862 (deceased ) ; William W., born Feb. 15, 1865 (deceased ) ; Rob. G., born April 20, 1866; Albert, born March 6, 1869 (de- ceased ); Edward S., born Oct. 31, 1870. Was elected Justice of the Peace in 1857, under the old precinct law; re-elected 1858, under township law, and has been contin- ued up to the present time; was elected School Treasurer in 1860, and has been continued ; and since 1858, with the ex- ception of three years, has held the office of Town Clerk ; he is also a Notary Pub- lic. Owns 160 acres, See. 15, worth $50 per acre; his house was burned down in 1865, burning many valuable papers.
JOSEPH H. MARTIN, farmer ; P. O. Zookville; was born Oct. 9, 1829, in Wayne Co., Ill. ; his home was in Mar- shall Co. until 1856, removing that year to Livingston Co., where he now resides. Was married, in 1851, to Susanah Cochran, who was born in Penn., 1832; they have had eight children-Frank H., born Aug. 14, 1852; Clara J. (deceased), Nov. 14, 1854 ; Minerva E., June 8, 1857; Laura (deceased ), May 22, 1859; Virginia (de- ceased ), July 10, 1861 ; Marian N. L., Jan. 22, 1864 ; James E., Jan. 18, 1867 ; Cora Bell, Sept. 13, 1869. Was first Con- stable and Collector in the town, second Supervisor, and has held the same office four years since; also School Trustee, and at present, Road Commissioner. Mr. Martin owns 280 acres of land, valued at forty dollars per acre, all under good cultivation ; has also held the office of Assessor four years.
S. N. PILLSBURY, farmer; P. O., Gridley ; was born in York Co., Maine, July 19, 1812; in 1855, he came to Bu- reau Co., where he farmed it for three years ; 1858, he removed to where he now resides. Married, in 1834, to Miss Susan Avrill; they have had eight children- Nathaniel J., born Oct. 21, 1834, at present Judge of Appellate Court of Liv- ingston Co. ; Joseph A. (deceased), born March 7, 1836; Stephen O., born Aug. 23, 1837 ; Mary E., wife of State's Attor-
ney Murdock, Sept. 20, 1839 ; Benjamin (deceased ), born June 6, 1841 ; Eliza J., born March 6, 1843; Frank W., March 2, 1845, lawyer in Union, Hardin Co., Iowa; Ambrose H., born March 9, 1848, physician in same town and State. Eighty acres land, Sec. 32. Hlas held office of School Director.
ABEL PEARSON, farmer; P. O. Minonk ; he was born in Lincolnshire, Eng., Aug. 24, 1826; came to this country in 1850; in England, he followed farming; he first came to Washington, Tazewell Co., and after, moving to Eureka, Woodford Co., Ill., but made no permanent settlement until 1856, when he came to Livingston Co , where he now lives. He married, Oct. 26, 1851, Mary Ann Blood- worth, at Metamora, Woodford Co., Ill ; she was born Jan. 15, 1823, in Lincoln- shire, Eng. ; they have had seven children, five living-Susan Ann, born Sept. 18, 1852; Abraham N., born Jan. 1, 1854 ; Mahala M., March 4, 1855 ; Josephine, May 3, 1856; Hammond A., Oct. 5, 1857; Clark, Nov. 7, 1859 ; Abel, May 3, 1861 ; the two dead are Abraham N., died Oct. 2, 1854, and Abel, died Oct. 6, 1862; owns 240 acres of land, valued at. $40 per acre; has held office of Assessor two years ; also the office of School Trust- ee and Director, and is at present Con- stable.
JOHN RICHARDSON, farmer ; P. O. Minonk ; he was born in Huntington- shire, Eng., in 1833 ; came to America in 1854, and settled in Illinois, first in Mar- shall Co., but finally locating where he now lives in Livingston Co. Married, in 1855, to Sarah Richardson at Marshall Co .; they have nine children-Lemuel. Elizabeth, Fryer, Charlie, Otis, Alfred, Martha, Flora and Mary ; he has held the office of Supervisor one year ; also of Con- stable and School Director. Mr. Richard- son has a farm of 400 acres, valued at $40 per acre. He was one of the earliest settlers.
JOHN WESLEY SIMPSON, farmer; P. O. Zookville ; he was born in Mus- kingum Co., Ohio, in 1826; in 1852, he removed to Tazewell Co., Ill; in 1854, he removed to Livingston Co .; was a renter for two years, afterward buying where he now resides; has forty acres, valued at $45 per acre. In 1850, he married De-
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borah Simpson; she was born in Licking Co .. Ohio, in 1828; they have had ten children, six living-Lucy . Ellen, Mary Elizabeth, Emma Louisa, Susanah, Irena, Minnie ; he has held the offices of Consta- ble eight years, Road Commissioner and School Director, and School Trustee.
SAMUEL SIMPSON, farmer, Sec. 2; P. O. Zookville; he was born in Ohio, in 1826, where he lived until he was 22 years of age; after moving from one place to another, he finally settled in Livingston Co., where he now lives, in Nebraska Tp., in 1868. He mar- ried Almedia Butler in August, 1868; she was born in 1838; they have one child, born Dec. 25, 1871-George Wes- ley, by name. He owns forty acres, worth $40 per acre. At the commencement of the war he enlisted in the SSth Ill. Vols., and was wounded, for which he gets a pension from the government of $6 a month.
ROBERT THOMPSON, farmer; P. O. Minonk; he was born in 1831, in Aberdeen, Scotland; 1855, came to Amer- ica, but did not locate anywhere until 1859, when he located in Livingston Co., Nebraska Tp., Ill., where he now resides. He married Margaret M. Jury Dec. 31, 1861; she was born in Devonshire, En- gland, in 1832; they have four children- William Emery, born Aug. 3, 1863; Mary Isabelle, born April 28, 1865; Walter Fraser, born May 16, 1868; Albion Llewellyn, born Nov. 3, 1871. He owns 280 acres of land, valued at $45 per acre. Has held the office of School Trustee, and is the present incumbent of the office of Supervisor. He makes hogs a specialty.
HILLIARD VANDOREN, farmer; P. O. Zooksville; he was born in Somerset Co., N. J., in 1808; in 1815, moved to Ohio, where he worked at the carpenter trade until 1854, having worked at the trade some thirty years; in 1854, came to Livingston Co., where he now resides. He has held the office of Road Commissioner one year, and of Supervisor for two years. Was married in 1832, to Miss Eliza Thompson, in Warren Co., Ohio; she was born in 1806; they have had seven children - William, born Sept. 25, 1832; Elizabeth, born April 18, 1835; Francis M., born Dec. 17, 1838 (deceased ) ; H. R., born April 10, 1843; John A., born Oct. 19, 1845; Mary, born Aug. 16, 1848. Owns 360 acres, worked by two of his sons; his was the first house built in town, Secs. 21 and 22.
SAMUEL G. WILCOX, farmer; P. O. Minonk; born in Truxton, Cortland Co., N. Y., in 1824; he came to Illinois in 1838, to Princeton, Ill., where he re- mained for twenty years, following farm- ing; 1858, he came to where he now lives, in Livingston Co., Nebraska Tp. He married Louisa M. Shifflet, on May 28, 1853; she was born in Culpeper Co., Va., in 1836; they have seven children- William G., born May 15, 1854; Charles Lamont, born Feb. 3, 1856; Viola M., born Dec. 11, 1859; Walter G., born March 16, 1862; Samuel C., born April 17. 1870; George R .. born May 6, 1876; Genevia M., April 17, 1878. He owns 167 acres, valued at $45 an acre. Held the office of Assessor five years; held the office of Road Commissioner three years.
PIKE TOWNSHIP.
WILLIAM BALLINGER, farmer ; P. O. Chenoa. Republican. Has 240 acres of land on Sec. 28, valued at $45 per acre ; he was born in Warren Co., Ohio, Sept. 2, 1835, and came to' Peoria County in 1853, and to McLean County in 1859, and to this place in 1868. He married Maria Runion in Knox Co., Ill., Sept. 22, 1855 ; she was born in Highland Co., Ohio, Oct. 20, 1837 ; they have six children-
"Charles W .. Elizabeth C., Perry William, George Harry, Edward J. and Minnie May. Mr. B. has a very nice rolling farm for this county, and well-improved ; he is a leading farmer and an enterprising man ; he has been the architect of his own fortune ; from his own industry and economy he has made this fine property, as he com- menced with nothing but a heart and a will.
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JOHN FINNELL, farmer ; P. O. Ocoya. Independent ; Catholic. Has 320 acres of land on Sections 12 and 1, valued at $40 per acre; he was born in Queens Co., Ireland, March 10, 1836, and came to Peoria, Ill., in 1845, and to this place in March, 1873. He married Annie Knowland, in Peoria, May 2, 1861 ; she was born in Peoria County in 1841 ; they have seven children-Michael Wm., Mary E., Charles R., Martha E., Thomas H., John F. and Margaret E. Mr. F. has one of the large, rich farms of the county, and the best residence in the township ; he commenced life with limited means, and his great prosperity is due to his hard work and good management; he is a very enterprising man, and believes that one great idea of life is enjoyment, and what- ever will contribute to enjoyment and improvement we should have whenever able.
HENRY R. HERR, farmer ; P. O. Chenoa. Democrat and Presbyterian. He was born in the city of Baltimore, Md., Sept. 15, 1844, and came to this county in 1862. He married Maggie J. Upp in York, Penn., Dee. 20, 1866; she was born Oct. 1, 1844, in York ; they have three children-John, Fannie and George. Mr. Michael Herr, uncle of Henry R., came here in 1853 and bought tour sec- tions of land; at that time, only two or three dwellings had been built in Pike; Henry R. came here and bought one- half a section (one-fourth on Sec. 35, and one-fourth on Sec. 26) and put on fine improvements on the 160 on Section 35, within eighty rods of the corporate limits of the city of Chenoa; he built a residence costing $9,000 ; with his beautiful grove and surroundings, it is one of the most desirable homes in the county. Mr. H. had the advantage of a fine education, and is a very capable business man ; he rents his lands and spends his time in doing his uncle's business, and also does all the con- stable business in Pike. Mrs. Herr is a lady of refinement, and their three bright, intelligent children are receiving all the care and attention that kind parents can bestow.
JOHN HANCOCK, farmer; P. O. Chenoa. Republican ; Presbyterian. Has 160 acres of land on Sec. 25, valued at $50 per acre; he was born in Franklin
Co., Penn., Jan. 13, 1839, and came to McLean Co. in 1857, and to this place in 1859. He married Rachel M. Campbell, in Eppard's Point, June 2, 1863 ; she was born in Chester Co., Penn., July 7, 1844; they have four children-Ida M., Lettie, Charles N. and Josephine. Mr. H. has a beautiful farm finely situated, and is one of the very prosperous farmers of the town ; he is a very reliable citizen and good neigh- bor, and few men of his age have a bright- er future before theni.
MAURICE MONROE, farmer; P. O. Chenoa. Republican ; Presbyterian. Has eighty-five acres of land on See. 11, valued at $45 per acre ; he was born in Scotland, Oct. 22, 1844, and came to Illinois in 1853, and settled in Tazewell Co., and came to this place in Spring of 1870. He married Jemima Young, in Dec., 1867 ; she was born in Tazewell Co., March, 1844. Mr. M. came to this country when a boy, worked hard; got an education, and is the architect of his own fortune ; he is a self-made man ; has a good farm, a beau- tiful home, and is a very mtelligent farmer ; he is young, yet he is a leading man in society and the county. He was elected Supervisor of the Township in Spring of 1878, and represents the interests of the town very honorably.
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