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the firm name of Beeney Brothers, engaged in the general hardware, stoves and tinware business, until April 15, 1878, at which date he associated with M. R. Galusha, and have since successfully followed the above business, under the firm name of Beeney & Galusha. A card of their business is to be found in the Business Directory of Le Roy, in another part of this work. His marriage with Jennie Baddeley was celebrated Oct. 14, 1875; she was born in Le Roy, McLean Co., Ill., Sept. 17, 1850; they have one child by this union-Guy S., born June 1, 1877. Mrs. Beeney is the daughter of John C. Baddeley, one of the early pioneers of McLean Co., who located here in 1835, and whose biography appears among the sketches of Empire Township.

JAMES BISHOP, farmer, deceased, Sec. 10; one of the early pioneers of McLean Co.; born in Fauquier Co., Va., April 3, 1806. His ancestors came from England with William Penn. In the fall of 1809, he removed with his parents to Ohio, and located in what is now Clark Co., where he lived until 1831, when he came to Illinois, and, Jan. 12, 1835, he entered his first 240 acres of land, being the homestead farm upon which he located in 1837, and engaged in farming and stock-raising until his death, which occurred May 24, 1877. He built the house which now stands upon the old place, in 1835, and where Mrs. Bishop now lives with her youngest son, James Q. Mr. Bishop married, March 9, 1837, Margaret Cannady; she was born in Hopkins Co., Ky., June 15, 1808; she was the daughter of John Cannady, who located in White Co., Ill., in 1816; then to Blooming Grove, about the year 1828; he died in Empire Township, Sept. 25, 1835; Mrs. Cannady died Dec. 12, 1855. James and Margaret Bishop were the parents of five children, viz.: Caroline, born June 26, 1838; John Allen, May 3, 1840; Emily, Aug. 30, 1843; Rachel, May 23, 1846, and James Q., Nov. 24, 1848. The last-named now lives upon the old place. He married Martha J. Powell, Feb. 16, 1873: they had one child by this union, now deceased. Mrs. Bishop died Nov. 11, 1873. He married for his second wife, Margaret V. Powell. Their nuptials were celebrated March 11, 1875. She is a sister of his first wife, and was born in Pennsylvania, Oct. 23, 1856. They have two children by this union-Minor, born May 19, 1876, and Clinton Emery, Jan. 12, 1878. Mr. Bishop owns, upon his home farm, 564 acres of well-improved land, upon which he has good farm buildings, located one mile northeast of Le Roy.

HON. MALON BISHOP, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 15; P. O. Le Roy; born in Clark Co., Ohio, Dec. 25, 1810, where he assisted his father in farming until 20 years of age, when he rented land and engaged in farming three years for himself until the fall of 1834, when he took with him his wife and child, his team and household goods, six sheep and two cows, and drove to McLean Co., Ill.; upon his arrival, he purchased a claim upon which there were ten acres broken, and an old log cabin without chimney, a puncheon floor, clapboard door hung with hickory bark; and in this cabin he lived for six years, when he erected what is now used as a kitchen to his present residence, which was erected in 1842; he entered his first 160 acres of State land upon Jan. 12, 1835; he frequently made trips with his team to Chicago, taking up grain which he exchanged for goods. the trip consuming from eleven to fourteen days. Mr. Bishop has taken a deep interest in the cause of religion and education, having filled different offices in the school district, and has been an active member of the M. E. Church since February, 1842, Mrs. Bishop becoming a member of the same the following September. He held the office of Justice of the Peace from 1837 to 1839, and Township Supervisor two years during the war; he was elected to the State Legislature in 1842, and served during the winter of 1842 and 1843. His marriage with Catharine J. Foley, was celebrated March 23, 1831; she was born in Ohio, Aug. 20, 1812; eight children were the fruits of this union, viz.: Nancy Jane, born May 1, 1832, now Mrs. Mark M. Craig, of West Township; Stephen L., born Jan. 14, 1835; James F., born Dec. 6, 1836, died Aug. 6, 1862; Elias, born Jan. 12, 1839, died March 11, 1864; Catharine, born April 4, 1842, now Mrs. William Hammond, of West Township; Elizabeth, born June 22, 1845, died Aug. 24, 1869: Sarah A, born Apríl 1, 1848, died in infancy; Malon, born June 13, 1849; the last-named lives at home; he was married Jan. 30, 1878, to Emeline Smith; she was born in Ohio, Oct. 30, 1860, and is the daughter of Wesley Smith, formerly of Newark, Ohio.

JOHN A. BISHOP, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec 9; born in Empire Township, McLean Co., Ill., May 3, 1840; he was the oldest son of James Bishop, who first came to Illinois in 1831. and entered his first land Jan. 12, 1835, located upon Sec. 10, where he lived until his decease, which occurred May 24, 1877. His biography appears among the sketches of Empire Township. The subject of this sketch assisted his father in farming and stock-raising until 31 years of age, when he was married Feb. 14, 1871, to Mary E. Wiley; she was born in McLean Co., Feb. 11, 1844; they have one child by this union-James F., born Nov. 19, 1871. Mr. Bishop has lived upon his present place since his marriage; he has in his home farm upwards of four hundred acres of land, all under fence, upon which he has good farm buildings, his house being erected in 1871, and his barn in 1872; he also owns 170 acres of land in other parts of the county; Mr. Bishop's home farm is located one mile north of Le Roy; he is extensively engaged in feeding and shipping stock in connection with farming. Mrs. Bishop was the daughter of James Wiley, who located in McLean Co. at a very early day.

JOHN BONNETT, farmer, deceased; was born in the State of Pennsylvania, in the year 1778; at an early day he emigrated to Ohio, and lived in Licking and Knox Cos. until he

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emigrated to Illinois. He was united in marriage with Elizabeth Yontz, at Mt. Vernon, Knox Co., Ohio, in the year 1820; she was born near Hagerstown, Md., February, 1802; she rode horseback from her native place to Licking Co., Ohio, in the month of February, when only 14 years of age; after living there a few years, they removed to Mt. Vernon, Knox Co., where her marriage with the subject of this sketch was celebrated; their children were nine in number, viz.: Susan, born April 27, 1821; William, March 1, 1823; Yontz, March 7, 1826; Isaac, November, 1828; Lewis, April, 1830; Daniel G., March 9, 1832; James, March 8, 1834; Sarah C., Oet. 21, 1835; and John, born Sept. 14, 1841. In the spring of 1828, Mrs. Bonnett visited her native State, making the trip upon horseback. In the spring of 1851, John Bonnett, with his wife and four children drove from Ohio to Illinois in a large three-seated carriage; the spring was unusually wet, and they experienced much inconvenience from high water; they came through Springfield, Indianapolis and Covington; they found the water of some of the streams which they crossed so high that the water came into the carriage, and the occupants were obliged to stand upon the seats to prevent getting wet; they crossed the Wabash and Sangamon Rivers in a ferry; near Monticello the bridge was unsafe; they walked across the bridge, hauled the carriage by hand, then secured long grapevines and tied to the horses' necks, which they then swam across; their goods were shipped down the Wabash Canal, from Sandusky city to Covington, then overland by ox-teams to Monticello; in the fall, they removed to McLean Co., and located in Empire Township, two and one-half miles southeast of Le Roy; they located upon Sec. 35, where Mr. Bonnett purchased 300 acres, upon which they then moved; they experienced much difficulty that fall in obtaining flour and meal; the former being with difficulty obtained at $11 per barrel; they often went to Bloomington and Pekin to obtain provisions. In 1836, Mr. and Mrs. Bonnett both became members of the Episcopal Church, and lived consistent Christians to their death. Early in the year 1852, they suffered by death the loss of their youngest son. Upon the morning of the 27th of May, 1852, Mr. Bonnett, while reading his Bible was stricken with apoplexy, and upon the 2d of June, 1852, he passed down to the dark valley like unto his fathers before him, without a blot or stain; Mrs Bonnett continued to live upon the old place with her son James until her decease, which occurred Sept. 4, 1873; they now lie buried in the beautiful cemetery located one mile east of Le Roy, and over their graves stands a large marble monument, erected sacred to their memory by their loving children, of which three are now living in Iowa; two, Yontz and James, live upon the old place; the surviving daughter was united in marriage with George M. Sellers, and lives within one mile of the old home; the biographies of the latter three appear among the sketches of Empire Township in this work.

YONNTZ BONNETT, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 2; P. O. Le Roy; this gentleman was born in Knox Co., Ohio, on the 7th day of March, 1826; he is a son of John and Elizabeth (Yonntz) Bonnett, whose sketch will be found among the biographies of Empire Township. Yontz Bonnet emigrated previous to his parents, and located upon Sec. 35, Empire Township, in 1851 : he has a vivid recollection of the difficulty experienced in the fall of 1851, of obtaining flour and meal, which at times could not be obtained short of Pekin. The subject of this sketch preceded the family, and selected a location upon Sec. 35, and upon the arrival of his father the contract was closed for 300 acres of land at $13 per acre, and upon which, at that time, were two comfortable sets of farm-buildings, which have since been replaced by two other sets of a better quality; the location of the family here occurred too late to raise a crop, and the following year they put in sixty acres of corn, eight acres of wheat, some oats and vegetables. Upon the 24th of December, 1853, Yonntz Bonnett and Rachel Birney were united in marriage; she was born in Harrison Co., Ohio, March 28, 1830; they have two children now living by this union-John W., born Feb. 21, 1855, and Belle, born Aug. 27, 1858; upon the marriage of Mr. Bonnett, in 1853, he located upon his present place, where he has now 300 acres under good cultivation; and, aside from farming, he is largely engaged in stock-raising, feeding and shipping.

JAMES BONNETT, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 35; P. O. Le Roy; born in Knox Co.. Ohio, March 8, 1834; here he followed farming until 17 years of age, when he emigrated to Illinois and located in Empire Township, McLean Co., in 1851; he is a son of John Bonnett, whose sketch appears in this work; the goods of the Bonnett family were shipped to Sandusky city, then down the canal to Covington. from which place they were drawn by three ox-teams of two yoke each, to Illinois, the subject of this sketch driving one of the teams; he afterward, with an older brother, returned to Covington for salt with two ox-teams, loading back with twelve barrels, drawn by two yoke, the-other nineteen barrels drawn by four yoke of oxen, the salt selling for $5 per barrel. Mr. Bonnett has always lived, upon the old place upon which his parents first located in 1851, and where he has 500 acres of land upon which he has good farmbuildings; he now has 500 sheep, 60 head of cattle, 100 hogs and some horses, and is largely engaged in raising, feeding and shipping stock. He was united in marriage with Sarah Rinehart, April 2, 1862; she was born in Knox Co., Ohio, July 21, 1836; they have four children now living by this union, viz.: Oscar, born March 13, 1864; Robert, born Aug. 3, 1866; John Yontz, born Sept. 16, 1873, and Fannie, born Feb. 9, 1877.

NATHAN T. BRITTIN, farmer, deceased; Sec. 4; one of the early pioneers of Illinois. The subject of this sketch was born in Ohio Oct. 18, 1809; he was raised upon a farm until 20 years of age, when he emigrated to Illinois and located upon Sec. 1, Empire Township, McLean

Co., Ill., in the year 1829; here he laid a claim which he entered, when the land came into market, and upon which he improved, and afterwards added by purchase, until he had accumulated upwards of one thousand acres of land; his first house was a log cabin, with stick chimney, plastered with mud, raccoon bedstea 1, with one leg, in which poles were inserted, extending to the end and side logs of the house; his first cupboard and table was a dry goods box, from which they ate their food and placed their dishes and provisions. Mr. Brittin commenced in life without means, but by his hard labor and economy, he accumulated a good property at the time of his decease, owning upwards of one thousand acres of land, and holding upwards of $50,000 in securities, which occurred Oct. 10, 1869. Mrs. Brittin was born in Warren Co., Ky., near Bowling Green, Feb. 16, 1816; her maiden name was Sarah Barnett; she died Aug. 7, 1878, in Empire Township; Nathan T. and Sarah (Barnett) Britten were the parents of nine children, all of whom lived to grow up and become the heads of families. W. P. Conaway was born in McLean Co., Ill., Feb. 18, 1839; his father, Chalton D., emigrated to Illinois and located in McLean Co. about the year 1830, where he lived until 1856, when he removed to Logan Co., where he died two years later. W. P. Conaway was brought up to farm labor until Aug. 10, 1862, when he enlisted in the 94th Regt. I. V. I., and served in the Union army three years, being in the campaign of Missouri and Arkansas, and was also engaged in the States of Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas and Alabama; he was in many engagements, among which were Prairie Grove, siege and capture of Vicksburg, Morganzia, Yazoo, Fort Morgan and Spanish Fort, Mobile Bay; in the summer of 1865, he was sent to Galveston, Tex., where he was mustered out of service July 17; he received his discharge in Springfield, Ill., in August, 1865; he then returned to Empire Township, where he has since followed farming. His marriage with Katuriah Brittin was celebrated Nov. 21, 1861; they have two children by this union-having lost two by death; the living are Nora May, born Feb. 11, 1870, and Banton G., born Aug. 9, 1871.

JAMES BROCK, farmer, Sec. 5; P. O. Le Roy. The subject of this sketch was born in Granger Co., East Tenn., Jan. 7, 1833; he was raised upon a farm until 17 years of age, after which he was engaged in school-teaching during the fall and winter, and farming in summer, for a period of eight years; he emigrated with his family to Illinois, and located four miles southeast of Bloomington, McLean Co., in January, 1861; the following spring he rented land, and for four years was engaged in farming near Bloomington; in the spring of 1865, he located upon a farm of 110 acres. which he had purchased in West Township, where he lived until 1870, when he disposed of the above, and purchased 140 acres of his present place, to which he has since added, until he now owns 260 acres of land, upon which he has good farm buildings, and which he has acquired by his own personal labor, assisted by his wife, to whom he was united in marriage Jan. 6, 1854, in Tennessee; her maiden name was Rachel Aikin; she was born in Granger Co., Tenn, Oct. 14, 1830; four children were the fruit of this union-Enoch, born Sept. 17, 1855; Sarah F., born May 6, 1865; Rachel M., born Oct. 27, 1868; the deceased is Emily May, born Oct. 27, 1872; died Dec. 1, 1874.

J. W. BROWN, Postmaster and dealer in stationery, notions, etc., Le Roy; born in Muskingum Co., Ohio, Nov. 7, 1841; at 9 years of age, he emigrated with his parents to Illinois and located at Lewiston, Fulton Co., living there two years, when they removed to Bloomington, where he attended school until 17 years of age, when he entered the Wesleyan University, where he remained until the spring of 1861, when he enlisted for three months in the 8th I. V. I., and after serving his term of enlistment, and being mustered out of service, he returned to Bloomington, where he engaged as clerk in the dry goods trade until August, 1862, when he again enlisted for three years in the 3d Ill. Cav.; he was immediately sent to the front, and was engaged in the campaign through Missouri and Arkansas, then to Memphis, where he was located at the time the place was attacked by the rebels under Gen. Forrest, who was defeated by the above regiment, assisted by the 106th Ill. Inf., and one regiment of colored troops; after remaining in Memphis several months, they were sent to intercept the rebel Gen. Hood, with whom they fought and held in check for twenty-seven days, until the Union forces had concentrated at Nashville, which place he attacked, but was badly defeated. In the spring of 1865, he, with his regiment, was sent to St. Paul, Minn.; from there they were sent to Dakota Territory to fight Indians, and in the fall returned to St. Paul, where they were mustered out of service Nov. 25, 1865; he then returned to Bloomington, where he engaged as dry-goods clerk un il 1870, when he removed to Le Roy and engaged in clerking until 1877, when he received the appointment of Postmaster, which office he now holds; he also keeps a complete stock of stationery, notions, etc.; his business card appears in the business directory of Le Roy, in another part of this work. His marriage with Josephine Hayes was celebrated, Jan. 9, 1868; she was born in Bloomington, Nov. 1, 1848; they have two children now living by this union, having lost one by death; the living are-Walla, born April 1, 1869, and Clyde, born Oct. 26, 1871. Mrs. Brown was daughter of Silas Hayes, one of the early settlers of Bloomington, who emigrated from Connecticut in 1834.

HIRAM BUCK, farmer, Sec. 6; P. O. Le Roy; one of the pioneers of Illinois; born in Seneca Co., N. Y., March 20, 1801; his father, William S. Buck, was a soldier of the Revolution, and assisted in the capture of Cornwallis, at Yorktown. Hiram Buck received a common

school education; he remembers the war of 1812, as three of his brothers were soldiers in it, one of whom was captured at Queenstown Heights. In 1818, he removed, with his parents, to Hamilton Co., Ohio, the journey being made from Seneca Co. to the headwaters of the Alleghany River on sleds, then floating down the river from Orlean Point on a flat-boat, a distance of 900 miles, the time consumed being seventeen days. He then engaged in farming, which business he followed until 26 years of age, teaching school during the winter for five years; here he became acquainted with Gen. Harrison, who was afterward elected to the highest office within the gift of the nation. During the seven years following his leaving the farm, he was engaged in supplying the steamboats on the Ohio River with wood, for which he received, delivered, $1.25 per cord, and also made several trips down the Ohio and Mississippi Rivers, to New Orleans, taking down provisions, etc. In 1826, he removed to Switzerland Co., Ind., where he lived until 1833, when he emigrated to McLean Co., Ill., and located at Randolph's Grove, where he lived for a while, in a cabin near Campbell Wakefield's house; his first claim of eighty acres, for which he paid $50, he entered in 1835. He opened the first hotel in Le Roy in 1837, which business he followed, in connection with farming, for eight years, when he located upon his present place, where he has since lived; his first tax receipt was for 20 cents, which increased until it reached upward of $500. He became a subscriber to the Star of the West upon the publication of its first number, and has continued his subscription, which he has always paid, for fiftytwo years. Of township, county and school offices he has had his share, having been Justice of the Peace eighteen years, Postmaster at Le Roy seven years, County Commissioner, Surveyor, County Judge under the Constitution of 1848 for eight years, Supervisor of Empire Township four years, which office he now holds, Township Trustee of Schools, School Director, etc. In 1874, he was appointed, by Gov. Beveridge, one of the Trustees of the Illinois Industrial University, of Urbana; in 1875, he was elected Trustee of the Lombard University, at Gales. burg, which office he now holds. Mr. Buck is one of if not the largest landholder in Empire Township, and has never laid a claim against a deceased estate. His marriage with Mercy Karr was celebrated April 4, 1827; she was daughter of Capt. John Karr, one of the patriots of the Revolutionary struggle; the golden wedding of the above couple was celebrated April, 1877; it was attended by friends and relatives, from far and near; they came from surrounding counties and cities and States; they came from Iowa and from Cincinnati, Ohio; over one hundred representatives of all ages, from childhood to old age, came, among the latter being upward of thirty over sixty years of age; they gathered around the table, bountifully supplied; prayer was offered by the Rev. D. P. Bunn, of Decatur; the address of welcome was delivered by C. A. Buck, youngest son of the aged couple, out of respect to whom this vast company had gathered, and who showed unmistakably their feelings of love and respect by the many and valuable presents which they brought, among which was a heavy silver-headed cane to Mr. Buck, from the Hon. David Davis, of Bloomington, a solid gold-headed cane, from his neighbors, the presentation speech being made by Rev. D. P. Bunn, responded to, with much feeling, by the recipient; they also received a set of upward of fifty pieces of china, with gold band; Mrs. Buck was the recipient of a solid silver castor, from her children, large silver sugar-spoon, the gift of Mrs. Judge Davis, a $5 gold piece, from Mrs. Campbell Wakefield, a set of solid gold sleeve buttons and cuff pins, from ladies of Bloomington; of the above company gathered, three had witnessed the marriage ceremony, fifty years previous. The children of Hiram and Mercy Buck were-Amanda M., born July 10, 1828 (wife of James H. L. Crumbaugh, living three-quarters of a mile south of the old home); Thomas L. Buck, born Oct. 23, 1831 (lives in Le Roy); Elizabeth R., born Feb. 21, 1834, died Feb. 13, 1837: Martha E., born Dec. 14, 1838 (now wife of John McConnell, lives in Downs Township); Nancy J., born Feb. 19, 1843 (now Mrs. Isaac F. Dawson, of Downs Tp.), and Charles Albert Buck, born Aug. 19, 1849 (he is a graduate of Lombard University, of Galesburg, and lives across the road from his parents).

THOMAS L. BUCK, farmer; P. O. Le Roy; born in Switzerland Co., Ind., Oct. 23, 1831: he emigrated, with his parents, to Illinois and located in Randolph's Grove in 1833; his father opened a hotel in Le Roy in 1837, which he kept eight years, after which the subject of this sketch remained with his father and engaged in farming until marriage, when he located upon Section 6, Town 21, and followed farming until the fall of 1874, when he removed to Le Roy, that he might have better privileges of churches and schools; he now owns 160 acres of land upon his home farm, 80 acres in De Witt Co, 35 acres within the city limits of Le Roy, where he resides, upon all of which he has good buildings, and also several hundred acres of timber and pasture. He is now one of the Aldermen of Le Roy, which office he has held for three His marriage with Mary J. McConnell was celebrated March 16, 1859; she was born in years. Hamilton Co., Ohio, June 16, 1829; they have two children by this union-Rose E., born Jan. 25, 1860, and Orral M., born Aug. 23, 1862.

CHARLES ALBERT BUCK, farmer, Sec. 6: P. O. Le Roy; the subject of this sketch is the youngest son of Hiram Buck, whose biography appears in this work; he was born in Empire Township, McLean Co., Aug. 19, 1849; he attended the common schools during his youth, among which was the school at Le Roy; at 19 years of age, he entered the Normal University, at Normal, which he attended one term, when he entered the Lombard University, at Galesburg,

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