Christian character. Several of her children live near. A son, Lewis, is a large and prosperous farmer. Another, William B., has served several terms as Coroner of McLean County, and as a Justice of the Peace in Bloomington.

Mr. John Hendrix, the father of Allen, should not be confounded with Mr. John Hendrix, who was the first settler in the county. The latter came from Champaign County, and it is not known that he was a relative of the Huron County man.

Allen-we think no secresy is violated in so stating-is a Republican, and probably no important convention or caucus of that party has been held in the county for twenty years without his presence. No one who knows him will question his fixedness of opposition to whatever he antagonizes.

Owen Cheney came here with his father, Jonathan Cheney, who, it will be remembered, lived here awhile before settling Cheney's Grove. Owen married Maria, a daughter of J. W. Dawson, and commenced early to make a farm out on the prairie. He was a man of energy, and, though dying comparatively young, left a considerable property.

His son, Hon. J. H. Cheney, now living in Bloomington, the Vice President and Treasurer of the L. M. & B. R. R., owns a large farm in this township, near Ellsworth, and is largely engaged in cattle-feeding and trading. His annual sales of cattle and hogs are large, and his business capacity is of the highest order.

William Harrison, another son-in-law of Dawson, commenced a farm here about the same time, and still lives with his son on the farm near Ellsworth.

William and Frank Evans, sons of William Evans, who was one of the first settlers of Blooming Grove, early took up farms near the timber, and have raised large families here.

David Brannaman came here with Josiah Horr, and took up a farm near him at Stumptown. He had seven children. His son Addison lives still on the place.

I. B. Jackson, now living at Cheney's Grove, took up a farm near here first, and has quite a large family living around here.

Henry Burne came from Ohio and settled on "Bald Hill" about the same time. He died here and his children are scattered. His sons, who live in Martin Township, are among the best farmers of that town and are respected and successful.

John Arrowsmith purchased the place and still lives on it, his children living around him. His son, the present Supervisor, lives on the farm which was entered about thirty-five years ago by Archie Martin (his father-in-law). Mr. Martin died about fifteen years ago, leaving a family of six children and about five hundred acres of land. The children still reside here.

Henry Arrowsmith, a brother of John, has a good farm in that part of the township, his children living around him. Henry Bump, who came from New York, settled on the farm now occupied by Thomas Mitchell, near the station.

The earlier settlements in the northwestern part of the township, around about Benjaminville, were made by a number of members of the Society of Friends. John Benjamin, a brother of the present County Judge, commenced his farming operations out on the prairie twenty-five years ago. He gave the name to the post office there and owns 1,000 acres of land around it. He is an excellent man, a good farmer and a citizen of great worth and influence, maintaining the early simplicity which marks the His children have settled around him, and there seems no reason why he should

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not be contented and happy. His land is of the best; the buildings, stock and appointments all very good.

Henry Bedell, from New York, settled near Mr. Benjamin in 1859; is like him in religious belief and practice. He has half a section of fine land, is a good farmer and most excellent neighbor-his eight children living near him. No higher tribute can be paid him than that of one who has long lived near him, who said, in the blunt way which carries with it the conviction of truth, "Henry Bedell is a credit to the community, an honor to the name. He is a Quaker, and a good one."

Friend Abner Moore, a preacher of the Society, lived there several years. He died, leaving a son and three daughters. He was a very old man, but greatly esteemed. His son James has recently sold the old homestead, for $52 an acre, which does not look much like "hard-pan" prices. If it indicates anything it is that good farms are not as much affected by shrinkage in prices as poor ones.

Dr. Hinton came here from Ohio about 1844, and began the practice of his profession. He was a well-educated and skillful physician. He owns about one thousand acres of land. His son Alvin has succeeded to his father's practice, and has a large and successful practice in this and the adjoining townships.

Jonas Krum, father of I. R. Krum, grain-dealer at Bloomington and at Arrowsmith, settled near the mill at Stumptown about thirty years ago. He carried on a considerable farm until his death, about 1860.

There are besides these, who are regarded as the early settlers, the names of several others which properly belong here. Richard Swan and Mr. Gibbs settled early, near the timber. James Ganoe, John Campbell and William Orange, a little later. Later still, James Welch, Thomas Kennedy, Matthew Richardson and James Reed, in the northern part.

Joseph Jennings, from Tazewell County, has a fine farm of 400 acres, which he bought of Mr. Hamilton, east of Benjaminville, about 1860. The buildings are firstrate-two good houses and three barns-with 1,200 trees on the place. He is a good farmer, very industrious and successful.

Ashley Merwin has a fine farm of 240 acres, upon which is a nursery and large orchard. George Brigham came here from the northern part of the State, in 1846. He has a good farm near the middle of the north line of the township.

Thomas Kennedy has an excellent farm of 240 acres, in the western part of the town. He came here from Funk's Grove, in 1863. The buildings, orchards and fences are in excellent condition, and the farm shows a careful and successful farmer.

James White owns 200 acres of land in Section 17, which he bought in 1857. It is a fine farm, with good buildings and excellent orchard.

Jonathan Spencer has a well-improved farm in Section 17, upon which he has lived eighteen years. He has a fine, new barn, and first-rate stock, having a decided weakness for good horses. A thrifty man, with a family of nine children, ought to be, and is, deemed a success.

CHURCHES.

Besides the Friends' meeting-house, there are within the township three Methodist, a Christian and a Baptist Church.

The first regular Quarterly Meetings here were held in Frankeberger's barn, by Peter Cartwright and John St. Clair, Presiding Elders. The former is well known, the latter not

so well, but quite as favorably. He was a most excellent man, and the few who are now here that formerly knew him, speak of him in terms of profound admiration. At a camp-meeting once, when the services were at the most interesting point, a heavy and very threatening cloud collected, and, with awful peals of thunder and terrific lightning, approached. The tornado was too well known by these dwellers along the timber edges at this time. Fear seemed to seize every heart but the pious Elder's, who, with no indications of other than a fear for the final condemnation of the impenitent, discontinued his sermon, and asked the whole congregation to unite with him in a prayer to Him who holds the winds in the hollow of his hand, for the aversion of the coming storm. With tones as free from feeling as if he had been in his chamber, he sent up the petition of the congregation, that if it was the Lord's will the storm might pass by, that the religious services then in progress might be permitted to continue, to the glory of God, and the up-building of His Kingdom. Whether in response to the prayer of faith or not is not given to finite minds to decide, but the storm divided and passed away. The effect upon the audience was beyond the power of pen description. The whole congregation shouted as they sang a hearty thanksgiving, and each one felt as if standing on holy ground. They retired to their tents to continue clear into the middle of the night hallelujahs of praise. It was the most remarkable soul-stirring scene ever witnessed in this part of the country. Some of the earlier preachers here were Mr. Frankeberger, William Royal, John French and Squire P. Chase. The first class consisted of eight persons, with John French for leader. They were: Mr. and Mrs. French, Mr. and Mrs. Swan, Mr. and Mrs. Frankeberger and two daughters.

The first M. E. Church was the Old Town Chapel, near the southeast corner of the township, south of where Ellsworth now is. It was built about 1845, and is about 30x38. Jesse Frankeberger, Ezekiel Arrowsmith and Andrew Jones were largely instrumental in building this house. An M. E. Church was built in 1860, at Benjaminville, under the active energies of James White, Joseph Murphy and others. It was removed to Holder, and sold to the United Brethren, after which the Methodists built Harmony Chapel, in 1877, two miles east of Benjaminville, on Jennings' land. It is 32x40, plain and neat, painted and carpeted. This was under the pastorate of Mr. Job Ingram, now of Downs, and W. B. Rucker, Seth Middleton Jennings, White and others were active in supplying the long felt need. Asbury Chapel was built at Stumptown about 1869, and cost about $1,900. David and Alfred Frankeberger, and Lewis Hendrix were the leading spirits. The house was dedicated by Presiding Elder Buck.

The Baptists have in years past held an important position in the southern portion of the township. Their house of worship was built about 1843. Elder Whitney preached here several years. Elders Fiske and H. H. Ballard also officiated frequently. There were about twenty-five members at the time of building. Archie Campbell, Mrs. Esther Ireland and Elder Whitney were the most energetic in this work. Mrs. Ireland, now apparently nearing her end, has long been a stay of the church, by her example, her earnestness, doing personally all that any woman could, her purse always open, her faith always strong. Her nephew, Mr. Livingston, and Charles Ingell are live workers in the cause. The Christian Church had on organization before Ellsworth was laid out, and held meetings in Center Schoolhouse. Elder Speed Staguer and Mr. Robinson have preached, and Oscar D. Campbell officiates at present.