USA > Illinois > Stephenson County > The History of Stephenson County, Illinois : containing biographical sketches war record statistics portraits of early settlers history of the Northwest, history of Illinois, &c. > Part 93
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SOLOMON HIXSON, cooper, Cedarville ; born in Union Co., Penn., Nov. 18, 1824; learned his trade at an early age, and worked with his father until his death, in 1845 ; he supported the family then, and in 1853 married Miss Margaret Snyder, and again in 1866 to Miss Mary Snyder; his family consisted of six children-Luther, Willic, Eddie, Maggie, Charles, Emma. Mr. Hixson's mother died in 1876, aged 83 years. He was engaged from 1855 to 1867 in making barrels for the Cedar Creek Mills; now farms some, and owns the property where he lives. He belongs to the Evangelical Church of Cedarville.
WILLIAM HOFF, merchant, Buena Vista ; born in Union Co., Penn., April 19, 1833. In 1853, he married Miss Rachel Cline, of Pennsylvania, and in 1856 came West to Stephenson Co., going to Buena Vista in 1870 ; established a mercantile trade, which carried between $6,000 and $7,000 worth of stock. Mr. Hoff has now retired from business ; he now owns a house and nine lots in the village, having sold his business March 18, 1880, to J. G. Ermold. William Hoff held the office of Postmaster from 1877 to May, 1880, and his family are John, William H., Charles M., Bertha A. and Lewis J. (deceased). Democrat in politics ; Lutheran in religion.
MILTON B. HUMPHREY, farmer, Sec. 20; P. O. Buckeye Center ; was born in Stephenson Co., and is now carrying on the old estate, which he has man-
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aged since 1877; it is situated on Sec. 20, consisting of 160 acres, valued at $50 an acre ; he now has it stocked, and is giving his attention to pork. In December, 1875, he married Miss Hartzough, and had one child named Francis. Mr. Humphrey has held township and school offices, being Collector in 1875-76. His two brothers, John H. and Charles, enlisted in the 93d I. V. I; his brother Edward joined the Regulars, 12th Regiment ; served his time out, and is now in Kansas.
THOMAS HUTCHINSON, farmer, Sec. 33; P. O. Cedarville ; born in Union Co., Penn., Sept. 27, 1798; he was engaged in the woolen-factory with his brother, who died in January, 1880 ; manufactured in Union Co., then Lycoming Co., and then came West; he settled, first, near Cedarville, then bought this claim of John Rockey-then about 445 acres-of which he now holds 240, on Sec. 33 ; building a log cabin, went to farming, and at times worked at the factory ; and one season he spent in Beloit, manufacturing woolen cloths. Mr. Hutchinson, in 1824, married Miss Wallace, and for fifty-four years they lived together without a cloud to darken their hap- piness ; on June 11, 1878, she passeda way ; their family is M. Jane, now at home ; Wallace, Stephenson Co. Treasurer ; Margaret, deceased ; Samuel, now on the adjoin- ing faim ; Sarah, now Mrs. Miller ; Mary, now Mrs. Rutherford ; Martha, living at home; Robert, at home; Isabella, in the office with her brother Wallace in Freeport ; Samuel enlisted in the 146th I. V. I., and served one year on provost duty in the State of Illinois.
D. G. ILGEN, Cedarville ; born in Clinton Co., Penn., in 1840 ; he spent his youth in Cedarville, where his father, in co-operation with others, succeeded in laying out the village, and as it stands, occupies George Iglen's Addition ; the pioneer family came to the West directed solely by map and compass, stopped first in Dakota, and then, in 1849, came here ; the ground donated for public buildings was donated by Mr. Ilgen's family, the founder of the village ; George Ilgen died in 1864, and, in 1870, the mother was followed to the grave by her twelve children. D. G. Ilgen finished his education in Springfield, Ill., and, in 1862, enlisted in the 93d I. V. I., Co. G, and was mustered out at Louisville, Ky., in June, 1865; during the service, he was in every rebel State, Texas and Florida ; on arriving home, went to teaching school, and after nine terms at this, went into the employ of L. H. Everts & Co., publishers, and, in their interests, traveled through Ohio, Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and in 1877 came to Cedarville, became the successor of James Benson, now carrying on an extensive and growing trade in general mercandise ; this mercantile . enterprise was started and established by Mr. Benson in 1850, being now the oldest in the village, and Mr. Ilgen is now doing a good business in Cedarville and surrounding country. On Dec. 28, 1875, he married Miss Benson, of Cedarville ; their son James was born on Oct. 9, 1877.
JOSEPH F. JACKSON, proprietor and operator of the Cedar Creek Woolen Factory, about two and a half miles northeast of Cedarville, on Sec. 32; the mill was built in 1856, and run as a flaxseed oil-mill, J. F. Jackson, Richard Glenan and John H. Addams, proprietors ; in 1859, the woolen-factory was established by Joseph F. Jackson, and has been run by him since ; in the different cloths manufactured, there are 18,000 pounds of wool used per annum ; the building is 35x40 feet, three stories high, was formerly run by an over-shot waterwheel, but, in 1872, a Leffel turbine was placed in the mill of 20-in. diameter ; near the mill stand the houses occupied by the families who gain a subsistence by working there. Mr. Jackson was born in Clinton Co., Penn., Jan. 1, 1821 ; learned the tanning trade, and worked at it a number of years ; on coming West, he taught school, then went to farming. In 1847, married Miss Sarah Barber, and they have seven children-Sarah E., now Mrs. Dienur ; Emily, John, Clara, Effie, William and Mary. Mr. Jackson has held the office of Supervisor, and also school offices ; in politics, a Republican.
JACOB JONES, miller, Cedarville ; born in Maryland, July 18, 1822 ; he was engaged with his father in farming and distilling till 1840, when they sold out and came West, and settled in Ogle Co., Ill., where his father died at the age of 93; his mother, now 78, still lives, hale and hearty. Mr. Jones engaged in milling on coming
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West, and has been employed in quite a number of mills in this and surrounding counties ; is now resting, expecting to go to work soon. On Dec. 24, 1846, he married Miss Anna R. Mitten, of Maryland ; their family is Margaret M., Mary, George, Alice, Ida, Clara, Laura, Frank and Samuel. Mr. Jones is a Democrat ; his wife belongs to the Lutheran Church.
ROBERT JONES, farmer, Sec. 24; P. O. Buckeye Center ; born in Kent Co., England, Feb. 16, 1799 ; he left in the spring of 1831 for New York ; lived in Utica for one year, and about 1834, taking the Western fever, struck out for Illinois, where he met Levi Lucas, and came to Stephenson Co., in 1835, Dec. 24 ; when here, took claims of some 500 acres each ; together built a cabin, which was finished in 1836 or 1837 ; he lived here but one year ; in 1845 put up part of his present house, and finished it in 1860 ; owns 154 acres of land, valued at $50. Mr. Jones married Miss Horlacher, Aug. 9, 1838, who died in 1859; in 1867, married again, a Miss Burgess ; by the first marriage had seven children-Daniel W., twin brother to Thomas B .; David, Sarah, deceased ; Elizabeth, now Mrs. Lied; Anna M., now Mrs. Fry ; Robert H. Mr. Jones is a Republican, and now gives attention to cultivating grapes and bee keeping.
THOMAS B. JONES, farmer, Sec. 24; P. O. Buckeye Center ; born Feb. 3, 1841, in Stephenson Co .; his father came to this county in 1835, Dec. 24; he owns 90 acres of land. Enlisted in 1861 in Co. B, 46th I. V. I .; served to the end of the war ; he was promoted to Corporal ,then 2d Lieutenant, and mustered out 1st Lieu- tenant ; was wounded at the battle of Shiloh ; was Township Collector during 1874 and 1875 ; is Justice of the Peace; is Trustee and Steward of the M. E. Church at Cedar- ville. Married Susan D. Snyder, in 1868 ; they have one child, Ralph D., born May 28, 1874; Republican in politics ; attends M. E. Church.
DANIEL KECK, farmer, Sec. 9; P. O. Fountain Creek ; born in Lehigh Co., Penn., in 1809, and his wife in 1816 ; he came out for health in 1851, to Stephen- son Co.'; while in Pennsylvania followed mercantile business; before coming West, had sent money to a friend, who bought 80 acres for him on Sec. 9, where he has since lived. In 1835, he married Miss Sager, and their family are Henry S., who belonged to Co. A, 46th I. V. I., Joseph S., Mary N., Amelia N. ( now Mrs. Longenstein ), Ellen L. and Hiram F. Mr. Keck belongs to the Evangelical Church, and was a class leader thirty years.
DANIEL KOSTENBADER, farmer and carpenter, Cedarville ; a native of Pennsylvania ; came here in 1847 ; landed in Savannah, and started with his brother Aaron for David Neidigh's farm, where their brother Andrew was working ; when they arrived at their destination, they had trouble to find work. In 1848, he and Aaron built a shop, and Aaron married and moved into it; one-half was used as a carpenter shop; in 1855, went back East, and with his sister, commenced keeping house ; in 1857, he sold out that property and since 1860 has lived in this house ; Daniel is single, and in 1861 enlisted in the 46th I. V. I., Co. K .; mustered out in 1862. The old family was Joseph, in Pennsylvania; Henry and Betsy also; Aaron is on the farm; Andrew is in Kansas ; Louisanna, now a widow ; Margaret, keeping house for Daniel; John, now deceased; Moses and Jake, in Pennsylvania ; Samuel Soloman, over in Richland ; Elias, in Iowa ; Elias and Soloman were in the 92d I. V. I., and through the war ; Daniel is a Republican.
WILLIAM H. KRYDER, farmer, Sec. 32; P. O. Cedarville ; born in Pennsylvania Valley, Center Co., Penn., 1835; came West with a party of about seven- teen persons ; it took over three weeks to make the trip ; on the way, his life was saved by Hannah Meese, who caught him as he was about to fall into the river ; they came by boat to Savannah, and with four teams; from there up to where Neidigh lived, in an old cabin ; they arrived in the county in 1842, May 18, soon built a cabin in Lan- caster Township, where they lived until moving over to the factory, where he stayed from 1862 to 1864; he then moved to Cedarville, and enlisted Sept., 3, 1864, in the 146th I. V. I., Co. E, and escorted President Lincoln's body to the grave ; he came back to Cedarville in July 25, 18 5. In 1859, he married Miss Williams, and in 1869 moved on to the farm on Sec. 32; owns 171 acres, belonging at one time to
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the old Dr. Van Valzee claim. Mr. Kryder has a family of seven children-Mary J., now Mrs. Grayham ; Ida B., deceased ; George W., J. Frank, Hiram D., deceased ; Eva M. and Cyrus.
EDWIN LIED, farmer, Sec. 24; P. O. Buckeye Centre; born in 1841 in Lancaster Co., Penn .; in 1854, came to Stephenson Co .; owns 160 acres of land. Enlisted in 1861 in Co. E, 11th I. V. I .; was mustered out June, 1865 ; was taken prisoner at Florence, Ga., in 1864; was released March 3, 1865. Has held township and school offices. Married Miss Jones Sept. 21, 1865; they have seven children- Harry R., Regina, John, Mary L., Lizzie E., Edwin M. and Robert R. He owns 80 acres of land. Republican in politics ; Lutheran in religion.
WILLIAM LIED, merchant and Postmaster, Buckeye Center; born in Lancaster Co., Penn., Dec. 22, 1838; commenced keeping store with Jacob Folgate, but bought him out in 1878, and has sole possession of the business, which is increasing ; he owns the store and a fine dwelling-house next, besides the land on which they are built. In 1858, Feb. 12, married Miss Melinda Folgate. Belongs to the Lutheran Church ; Republican in politics.
WILLIAM McHOES, farmer, Sec. 1; P. O. Orangeville; born in Nor- thampton Co., Penn , 1815; came to Stephenson Co. in 1849, with Charles Woodring's, Thomas and Jacob Bumis' and Mr. Applebauch's families ; stayed on John Miller's farm that winter; in spring, moved to prairie north of Piles' Grove; then moved here on to his present home; he owns 160 acres, the southwest quarter of Sec. 1. In 1839, married Miss Woodring, who died in 1868. In 1871, he was married to Miss Lattig, of Pennsylvania ; has had thirteen children, but there are only two at home- Eben and George; Oliver belonged to the 92d I. V. I., Co. G. Mr. McHoes has been Township Commissioner and Justice of the Peace. Lutheran in religion.
WILLIAM K. MOCK, confectioner, Cedarville; born in York Co., Penn., Aug. 15, 1811; he moved to Lebanon Co. in 1818, and was engaged in mer- cantile business until coming West ; in 1852, he went to Peru, La Salle Co., and then moved to Cedarville, where he kept the Cedarville House, but sold out and went into confectionery in 1854, and has been in it since ; he owns a farm in Iowa, and also town property. In 1847, he married Miss Catherine Shull ; they have one son, Van Buren, a carriage-painter. Mr. Mock is a Republican, and belongs to the Lutheran Church since 1827.
MICHAEL MUNHART, farmer, Sec. 10; P. O. Buena Vista ; born in Germany, May 5, 1815 ; emigrated to America June 20, 1840; stopped in Lancaster Co. three years; in Richland Co. two years, and came to Stephenson Co. in September, 1845 ; owns 40 acres of land. In 1851, he married Miss Elizabeth Addam, of Penn- sylvania, Union Co. He and his wife have belonged to the Lutheran Church since childhood.
DANIEL MUSSER, farmer, Sec. 2; P. O. Orangeville; born Oct. 26. 1836, in Centre Co., Penn .; came to Stephenson Co. in 1856, in company with his brothers ; settled here, where his mother kept house for him till he was married in 1864 to Miss Rebecca Dreiblebis, of Pennsylvania ; their children are William L., Mary E., Carrie M. and Burchard C. Mr. Musser owns 180 acres, and has been Supervisor of Buckeye since 1874 ; his brother, John, was elected Captain of Co. A, 46th I. V. I .; was wounded at Shiloh, and died in the hospital at Quincy ; was buried in the cemetery at Orangeville.
MRS. MANLY PARRIOTT, widow, Sec. 13; P. O. Buena Vista ; born in 1827, and married Manly Parriott in June, 1849; then moved to the old home- stead in a log house, until 1860; when they built the one in which George now lives, she has two other children-Deborah, now Mrs. Clingman, and William, now tending the farm, which she owns, 250 acres. Her husband has been dead ten years, having died March 28, 1870, and his mother, Nov. 12, 1849. Both belonged to the M. E. Church of Orangeville. Mrs. Manly Parriott's maiden name was Betsey J. Carroll.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES:
JACOB PIFER, carpenter and farmer, Cedarville; born in Lebanon, Leba" non Co., Penn., September, 1826; he learned his trade of William Layme when 18 years old, and May 3, 1862, came to Stephenson Co., and lived in Samuel Rosenberger's house in Cedarville; and in 1868, having bought this place, built a house on it, still working at his trade. In 1852, married Miss Rosenberger, and has a family of four boys-W. Latten, Cyrus A. and Samuel L., all carpenters now ; Edward L., now work- ing at painting. Mr. Pifer belongs to the German Reform Church at Cedarville, of which he is an Elder, now under Rev. F. Stump, of the Orangeville Circuit.
JOHN POLLOCK, farmer, Sec. 5; P. O. Orangeville; born in Scioto Co. Ohio; on April 8, 1844, he came to Stephenson Co., having lost his wife just before coming out ; settled on Sec. 5, and bought 170 acres; used to be the old Fey claim ; built part of the dwelling he now lives in, in 1848, and finished it in 1865. In 1847, he married Miss Morton, of New York, and has a family of eight children-Quincy, killed at Pittsburg Landing; Sarah J., now Mrs. Rockey; Anne E., David, Mary, John, Emma (deceased) and Jennie. Mr. Pollock has held school offices. Politics, Demo- crat. Mrs. Pollock belongs to the M. E. Church of Pleasant Hill.
THOMAS POLLOCK, farmer, Sec. 5; P. O. Orangeville; born in Scioto Co., Ohio, May 6, 1815 ; he first visited this county in 1840, afterward, together with his brother John, settled here in 1844; in 1845, their father came out, and they bought 320 acres for $450. Thomas married Miss Wilson in 1842; she died in 1859. In February, 1860, he married Miss Van Meter, and has a family of ten children-Calvin (deceased) ; Angemima, now Mrs. Messer ; Samuel-and next family-Janette, James, Lewella, William, Quincy, George, Flora; Janette, is now Mrs. Fair. Mr. Pollock has been Commissioner of Highways, and held school offices. Politics, Democrat ; religion, Presbyterian.
PETER C. REEDY, carpenter and farmer, Sec. 23; P. O. Buena Vista ; . born in Berks Co., Penn., in 1814; learned his trade when 17 years of age, in Berks Co., and moved to Lebanon Co .; from there to Ohio in 1839, then came to Stephenson Co. in 1844, in company with James Taylor and Andrew Streetmaker and family, Jacob Ploutz and family, Peter C. Reedy and John Emmes ; after one year in Waddams, he bought his farm where he now lives, of 40 acres. Mr. Reedy is a bachelor, and at present has his brother and wife living on the homestead. Peter C. is a Democrat.
CHARLES REITZELL, farmer ; P.O. Buena Vista; his father, Philip Reit- zell, and family came to Stephenson Co. in September, 1840; George was here in March, John and Jonathan in June of the same year; his father died in 1850; his mother died in 1879 ; the old family were Franklin, Henry, Charles, Cyrus, Elizabeth, now the widow of E. B. Strohecker, and Mary ; Franklin and Henry first managed the estate, and then Charles and Cyrus ; they run the White Hall Mills from 1850 to 1874; Mrs. E. B. Strohecker was married to Dr. E. B. Strohecker in 1850; family-Eugene R., Mary E. and Jennie G .; Charles was born in Centre Co., Penn., in 1837, and is now holding a township office.
WILLIAM RITZMAN, farmer, Sec. 1; P. O. Orangeville; born in Union Co., Penn., Dec. 25, 1804 ; followed milling and stilling till coming West. In 1829, he married Mary Gailwigs, who died in 1849. In 1851, June 10, he married Miss Mary Midderling, of Pennsylvania, and came to Stephenson Co. in November, 1846; settled on his homestead April 10, 1847, which he bought of Daniel Hawley, consisting of about 300 acres; there have been twenty-two children in the family, but only thirteen are now living-William, Henry, Jackson, John, George, Aaron, Charles, Robert (deceased), Martin, Lewis, Catherine, Uriah, Calvin and Quincy. Lutheran in religion.
EUSEBIUS SCHADLE, farmer, Sec. 29; P. O. Cedarville; born in Wurtemburg, Germany, Dec. 13, 1817 ; in his native country he learned weaving, and worked at it till coming to the United States, in the month of March, 1852; he stayed in New York awhile, and then came West in May of the same year to Stephenson Co., and settled in Silver Creek Township on a farm, but afterward moved to Buckeye, where he now owns 79 acres on Sec. 29. In 1854, he married Miss Haberly, of Ger-
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BUCKEYE TOWNSHIP.
many; they have five children-Hannah, now Mrs. Frouz; Lizzie, living in Freeport ; John, Mary and Willie. Mr. Schadle is a Democrat, and belongs to the Catholic Church.
WILLIAM STEWART, farmer, Sec. 28; P. O. Cedarville; born in Donegal Co., Ireland, March 17, 1833; came to Stephenson Co. in 1839, with about twenty-two persons in the party ; came by water to Chicago, Ill., and from there by land, in wagons, to Freeport, where his father, Robert Stewart, took up his claim on Sec. 28, where William now lives, and owns 200 acres. In 1861, Nov. 7, he enlisted in the 46th I. V. I., Co. K ; was promoted to First Lieutenant in 1862, Oct. 11, for meritorious service; promoted to captaincy, and in 1866, May 15, to Brevet Major. In 1866, May 27, he married Miss Gransdan, and has managed the farm ever since his father died, Jan. 21, 1872; they have seven children-Anna B., Amelia M., Robert J., Elsie S., Henry G., Sadie E. and Willie C .; the old family, thirteen ; Robert now in California ; Thomas, deceased ; Lucinda, now Mrs. Whitmore ; Margaret, now Mrs. Paul ; Mary A., now Mrs. Heckle ; William, subject of this sketch; Catherine, now Mrs. Johnson ; Sarah, now Mrs. Nelson ; Elizabeth, now Mrs. Wier; James C., Charles, Clara J., now Mrs Graham, and James C., deceased; their mother died April 14, 1878.
DR. S. C. THOMPSON, Cedarville ; born in 1850; studied medicine when 19 years of age; read with Dr. Barrett, and went to Chicago and attended lectures at the Rush Medical College, graduating in the spring of 1872, and entered the competi- tive examination, and was assigned to St. Luke's Hospital, and took general practice for one year ; he was then laid on his back by contracting the measles, and lost two good offers for Regular Army Physician ; this was in the spring of 1873; in 1874, he came to Cedar- ville, and took Dr. S. R. Bucher's practice, the Docter having died in 1874. He was one of the earliest pioneer settlers, and left a well established business, which Dr. Thompson most ably retains. He has quite a large laboratory connected with his office, and has accumulated sufficient to build a beautiful residence on the corner of Mill and Cedar streets. ยท In 1879, he married Miss Ida M. Bucher.
GEORGE TROTTER, farmer, Sec. 2; P. O. Orangeville; born in Bour- bon Co., Ky., June 13, 1809; in 1826, emigrated to Sangamon Co., Ill .; while a young man passed back and forth through Stephenson Co., mining, and during the Block Hawk war; serving in that campaign under Gen. Henry ; in 1836, took this claim ; now owns 135 acres. In March 24, 1833. married Miss Sarah Chilton, of Madison Co., Ill. ; their children arc Thomas, Elizabeth, now Mrs. Van Matre; James, William, George (deceased) ; Urania, now Mrs. Scott; Mary A. (deceased); Millard F., Sarah J. (deceased) ; Lucy C., now Mrs. Robey ; John C. Mr. Trotter has held school offices, and his wife belongs to the United Brethren Church of Orangeville.
ANDREW WILSON, farmer, Sec. 21; P. O. Fountain Creek ; born in 1823, Donegal Co., Ireland ; he came to America in 1839, with his father, John Wilson ; the rest of the family were John, Mary, Eli, Samuel, James and Moses; Andrew, in early times, worked for Dr. Van Valzee; mowed hay for Joseph Green, and was at McGee's mowing bee. He now lives on and owns 132 acres of the farm his father had originally claimed, which at one time embraced 640 acres. The house built on the old claim still stands. Andrew stayed on the old homestead until 1853, when he got this farm, lying on Secs. 21 and 28. In 1867, he married Mrs. Woods, formerly Miss Pyle ; they have had one child named Mary Jane. Mr. Wilson is a Democrat, and belongs to the Presbyterian Church of Cedarville.
JOHN WILSON, farmer, Sec. 21; P. O. Fountain Creek ; born in 1827 in Donegal Co., Ireland; came to America with his father's family in 1839; John, among his early experiences, helped to build the bridge across the river at Freeport ; and when they first got their claim there was but 10 acres broken. In 1858, he married Miss Devins, of Pennsylvania, and settled on his present home, Sec. 21, where he has a farm of 80 acres, valued at $50 an acre. Mr. Wilson is a Democrat, and has a fine family of five boys and five girls. John Wilson, his father, was quite an early settler in Stephen- son Co., and is well and favorably known.
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BIOGRAPHICAL SKETCHES :
PHILIP WINDECKER, deceased ; born 1826, in Germany ; came to New York in 1849, where he worked as a cooper for eleven years, then coming West, arrived in Stephenson Co., in 1850, erected a cooper-shop, and besides making barrels for the surrounding country, farmed his land, using in those days, a yoke of oxen. Mr. Windecker died in 1876; he was married in 1843, and his widow now holds the farm of 87 acres ; their family are John, Lucy, now Mrs. Swartz; William, Amelia, now Mrs. Augenstien ; Ellen, now Mrs. Hofmeister ; Sarah, now Mrs. Cochran ; Hiram, Albert, Clara and Joseph. Mrs. Windecker belongs to the Evangelical Church ; John and William belonged to the 46th I. V. I., Co. A; they reside on Sec. 9 ; P. O. Fountain Creek.
JERIT WOHLFORD, miller, Buena Vista ; proprietor of the White Hall flouring-mills ; he bought the mill property in 1876, January; the dimensions are 50x60 feet, 3} stories high, and runs three pairs of stones, with the finest water-power in the county, using the Leffle turbine wheel, one 30 in., the other 36 in .; Jared's father settled on Sec. 12, in this county in 1842 ; he has three brothers, John, Thomas and Webster ; he now own the mill and 360 acres of land. In 1867, married Miss Melinda Shank, of Wisconsin, and has six children-Ida, Emma, Johns Eddie, Mary and Melinda, twins. Mr. Wohlford has held office, and is a Republican.
LANCASTER TOWNSHIP.
THOMAS BELL, farmer, Sec. 6 ; P. O. Cedarville ; born in Dauphin Co., Penn., Dec. 2, 1819; came to Stephenson Co., in June, 1843 ; the trip from Pennsyl- vania here he made on horseback, in company with his brother Robert, now proprietor of the Tremont House in Freeport; being a carpenter by trade, he carried on that busi- ness for many years in connection with farming, to which latter occupations he has gradually giving more and more of his attention ; his farm comprises 400 acres of fine land in Lancaster, Harlem and Buckeye Townships. As an apt reminder of early days, there is yet standing near his residence the first parsonage built in Stephenson Co. Mr. B. is an honored member of the M. E. Church, and of the Republican party ; has held township offices. In 1845, he married Miss Jane W. Young, who came here in 1839, with her parents, Robert and Sarah Young, from Union Co., Penn ; the first brick house built in Stephenson Co. was erected by her father; it being the house now occupied by James Adams, one and a half miles west of Cedarville, in Buckeye Town- ship ; her father died in February, 1857, aged 64 ; her mother yet lives at the advanced age of 79. Mr. and Mrs. Bell, have four children living-James E., William R., Anna M. (Mrs. Clinghman) and Samuel Y .; one daughter, Sarah E. (Mrs. Badger, deceased).
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