J. F. ADAMS, brick maker and mason, Pontiac; born in Cumberland City, Alleghany Co., Md., June 21, 1836; he began working at the brick making business at the age of 13 years; he came to Livingston Co. in 1856, and started a brick kiln in Avoca Township; this was the first kiln of brick ever burned in Livingston Co.; the next year he engaged in farming, which he followed until 1866, when he came to Pontiac, since which time he has been engaged at the brick business and mason work. He was married on the 23d of December, 1860, to Miss Nancy M. Garner, daughter of S. P. Garner, one of the early settlers of Eppard's Point Township; she was born in Indiana March 12, 1843; they have eight children-Edward F., Mary L., Grant, Sarah, William, Joseph, Lida and Nannie.

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HENRY AUGUSTINE, nurseryman, Normal, McLean County, formerly of Pontiac; was born in Lancaster County, Penn., July 25, 1844; he came Illinois and settled in Canton, Fulton County, in 1857; in August, 1861, he enlisted as a private in Co. A, 55th I. V. I.; was soon appointed Sergeant, and after the battle of Shiloh was commissioned Second Lieutenant; shortly after this he was promoted to First Lieutenant; and on the re-enlistment of his regiment as veteran, was elected Captain of the company; after the fall of Atlanta, he returned home and recruited a company of volunteers, which was assigned to the 51st Regiment, and served until November, 1865. He then returned to Canton and spent five years in the drug business; he came to Livingston

County in March, 1869, and engaged in farming and the nursery business. On the 16th of the same month and year, he was married to Miss M. E. Gapen, of Lewistown, Ill., and has one child-Archie M. In Nov. 1875, he removed to Normal, Ill., where he is now engaged in the nursery business.

FRED L. ALLES, editor and publisher of the Pontiac Sentinel, was born in Pittsburgh, Penn., August 2, 1851; he attended the public schools until he was 10 years old, and afterward entered the offices of of the Pittsburgh Dispatch and the Pittsburgh Post; in 1868, he went to Chicago and engaged as foreman of the ReligioPhilosophical Journal, where he remained five years; after the fire, he removed to Sparta, Ill., and engaged in publishing the Sparta Plaindealer, and afterward the Belleville Advocate; he came to Pontiac in 1875, purchased the Sentinel, enlarged and improved it, and increased its circulation and its advertising patronage, until it now has the largest office in the county. July 1, 1878, the Sentinel was 21 years old. Mr. Alles is Vice President of the Illinois Press Association, to which he was elected at East St. Louis in June, 1877. He was married Dec. 4, 1873, to Miss Mary Allen, of Randolph Co., Ill. and has one child-Allen C.

ROBERT AERL, dealer in live stock and proprietor of Aerl's feed yard, Pontiac; was born in Adams Co., Ohio, Oct. 11, 1813; he resided there until 1839, when he removed to Brown Co., Ohio, where he lived until 1853, and then came to Illinois; he spent one year in McLean County, and from

there came to Livingston County in 1851; has always been engaged in farming until 1857, when he disposed of his farm and moved into town; in 1859, he made the overland trip to California, with a team, being nearly five months on the journey; he followed mining nearly three years, returning by way of the Isthmus; since that time he has continued in the stock and feed yard business, excepting two years spent in Kansas. He was married Feb. 6, 1836, to Miss Ann L. Gore, who was born Loudon Co., Va., June 15, 1812; they have three children living-Alvaro, Sarah F. and Isaac; one son, Enos, died in Savannah, Tenn., in 1862. He was a member of the 52d I. V. I.

O. F. AVERY, attorney at law, and Deputy County Clerk; was born in Hillsdale Co., Mich., Nov. 19, 1841; after receiving a high school education at the Jonesville Union School, he entered Hillsdale College, Michigan, remaining until 1861. He then entered the 11th Mich. Infantry, as a private, and was made a non-commissioned officer of Co. B; served in the Army of the Cumberland, taking part in the battles of Stone River and Chickamauga, and was wounded at the latter place; he was then detailed in the Michigan Military Agency at Nashville, and returned with his regimeat in 1864; returning soon afterward to Nashville, he entered the government employ, and while there, took command of a company of volunteers to defend Johnsonville, Tenn., which was threatened by Gen. Forrest's army; he afterward took charge of the Quartermaster's Department of the 40th U. S. Colored Infantry, and remained with them until Nov., 1865. He came to Livingston Co. in 1866, and taught seven years in the schools at Fairbury, five years as Principal; in 1872, he became Principal of the High School at Burlingame, Kan., remaining two years, during which time he was admitted to the bar; on his return to Fairbury, he taught one year as Principal, and was then admitted to the bar of Illinois, and commenced practice. In 1877, he was the Republican candidate for County Superintendent of Schools, and though defeated, carried his own township by a majority of 374 out of a total vote of 550; he was appointed Deputy County Clerk the same Fall. He was married April 22, 1869, to Miss Mary E Kring,

of Fairbury; they have one child

Kittie M.

HENRY BLACKMORE, proprietor city omnibus line, Pontiac; was born in Rochester, N. Y., Jan 6, 1834; his parents removed when he was quite young, to Indiana; thence to Danville Ill., and in 1844 to Ottawa; they resided there about five years, and then came to Livingston Co., and settled on a farm in Sunbury Tp. ; after becoming of age, Mr. Blackmore went to Peoria County, and engaged in farming; returning two years later to Sunbury. He was married Aug. 17, 1855, to Elizabeth King, of Peoria Co., Ill., on the 17th of Aug., 1861; he enlisted in Co. C, 1st. Illinois Light Artillery; he was present at Island No. 10, siege of Corinth, battle of Stone River, siege of Atlanta, and the battles of Jonesboro and Chickamauga; he served constantly with his regiment until Sept., 1864, when he returned to Sunbury. In the Spring of 1866, he removed to FiveMile Grove, and in 1874, came to Pontiac, and purchased the city omnibus line.

WILLIAM BURKE, dealer in wines and liquors, Pontiac; was born in County Tipperary, Ireland, November 3, 1836; he received a common English education in the pay schools of his native county; he was raised to farming pursuits; he came to the United States in Oct., 1863, previous to which time he had been employed as a clerk in a flour-mill and bakery some ten years; after spending seven months in New York, he came to Tazewell Co., Ill., and a year later to Livingston Co., settling in Pontiac ; he engaged in his present business in 1872. He was married Sept. 21, 1872, to Mary A. Thornton, of Chicago; she was born in Pittsburgh, Penn., April 12, 1854; they have two children living-Margaret and Mary; one child-Mary, died in 1873.

JOHN W. BRUNER, farmer, dealer in real estate, stock, &c.; P. O. Pontiac ; was born in Greene Co., Ohio, July 8, 1837; when he was about 4 years old, his father moved with his family to Montgomery Co., thence to Wabash Co., Ind. ; after six years, Mr. Bruner returned to Ohio, and settled in Butler Co.; after receiving a common school education, he spent nearly a year in Dennison University, Granville, Ohio; in 1859 and 1860, he was engaged in the dry goods business in

Cincinnati; returning to Butler Co., he | followed the boot and shoe and clothing trade for three years. He was married Aug. 15, 1861, to Miss Eliza J. Crane, daughter of Stephen C. Crane, of Butler Co., afterward a prominent citizen of Pontiac; she was born in Butler Co., Ohio, Jan. 25, 1843; they have had four children, one of whom, Hal. C., is living. They came to Pontiac in 1865; Mr. Bruner owns a farm of 160 acres, a mile and a half south of Pontiac, besides considerable property in the city, and as administrator of the estate of the late S. C. Crane has charge of some 2,000 acres of improved farms in Livingston Co., besides a large amount of town property and a thousand acres or more of land in other parts of the West.

R. W. BABCOCK, Agent for the Chicago & Alton R. R. Co.; Pontiac; was born in Columbia Co., N. Y., July 29, 1822; he received an academic education, and at the age of 19 began the study of law; was admitted to the bar in 1844, and practiced his profession ten years. He was married Feb. 7, 1847, to Miss Elizabeth Reed, of Franklin Co., Mass.; they have six children, one of whom, Bennie C., is now living. Mr. Babcock came to Livingston County in 1856, and spent the first three years in farming; he then followed merchandising from 1859 to 1871, since which time he has been the Agent of the Chicago & Paducah and Chicago & Alton R. R. Cos. He served seven or eight years in the School Board, being one of the Directors at the time of the erection of the new public school building; he held the office of Town Clerk one year and served two terms on the Board of Supervisors; he was elected the first Mayor of the city in 1872, served two terms, and also served several terms on the Board of Trustees and as a member of the City Council.

H. S. BENNETT, Agent of the American and United States Express Companies, Pontiac; was born in Lake Co., Ohio, Nov. 19, 1846; he lived there until he was about 14 years of age, when he came with his father's family to Pontiac in 1860; he has been a resident of the city principally ever since; he has been engaged in telegraphing, express and railroad business about eleven years. He was married Sept. 11, 1872, to Miss Anna M. Miller, of Delphi, Ind., who was born in the State of Ohio in May, 1848;

they have one child-Mabel E. His father, Charles Bennett, still resides in Livingston County on a farm about three miles east of Pontiac. Mr. Bennett is also Manager of the Western Union Telegraph office.

J. W. BABCOCK, dealer in groceries, crockery, glassware, etc., Pontiac; was born in Fulton Co., N. Y., Feb. 28, 1837; he lived there until he was about 15 years old, and then removed with his parents to Steuben Co., N. Y., where his parents now reside; he was raised to farming pursuits, which he followed until his removal to Livingston County; he received an academic education at the Franklin Academy, Prattsburg, N. Y., and after leaving school, taught for several years; he came to Livingston County in 1858, and after teaching a while, entered a hardware store, and three years later engaged in the grocery business for himself; he followed this about two years and then engaged in farming for some six years; he then resumed clerking for four years, and again engaged in merchandising, which he has followed to the present time. He was married May 18, 1862, to Miss Minnie S. Lawrence, daughter of A. Lawrence, Sr., of Pontiac; they have two children-Nettie K. and Lucy A.

FRANCIS BRUCKER, merchant, Pontiac; was born in Alzey, in Rhine Hesse, Germany, Aug. 9, 1806; he was educated under a private tutor at home, and when about 15 years of age he engaged in selling goods through the country, aud followed that until his marriage, which took place June 6, 1828. His wife was Miss Jeannette Franck, who was born in Hesse in 1800; they have three children living-Julia, wife of J. M. Greenebaum of Chicago, President of the Livingston County National Bank; Adolph and Simon S., now employed in the dry goods house of A. T. Stewart & Co., Chicago. After his marriage, Mr. Brucker engaged in the grocery trade, and from 1848 until he came to this country, in 1854, was the agent of the German Emigration Society; on arriving in this country, he spent about nine months in Newark, N. J., and then came to Chicago, where he resided three years, coming to Pontiac in 1857, and engaging in the dry goods and grocery trade, which he still continues.

ADOLPH BRUCKER, son of Francis Brucker; was born in Alzey, Germany,

July 21, 1836, and came to this country with his brother, Simon S., in 1853, and to Pontiac in 1857; he has always been engaged in the dry goods trade, and now has charge of the business in Pontiac. He was married Jan. 11, 1864, to Miss Bertha Rosenhoupt, of Peru, Ill., and has four children-Bella, Julia, Blanche and Albert.

MARTIN I. BROWER, attorney at Maw; is a native of Ashtabula Co., Ohio; he was born on the 21st of March, 1847; in 1862, he came with his father's family to Livingston Co., settling on a farm in Esmen Tp.; his father, Arlineus Brower, now resides in Pontiac, to which place he removed in 1875; Mr. Brower was educated at Lombard University, Galesburg, Ill., from which institution he graduated in June, 1871; he began the study of the law in the office of Judge L. E. Payson, in Pontiac, in May, 1872; was admitted to the bar in September, 1874, and at once entered upon the practice of his profession. He was elected City Attorney in April, 1875, serving one year, and is at present Justice of the Peace, to which office he was elected in May, 1877.

W. W. BERRY, dealer in wines and liquors, Pontiac; was born in the county of Cork, Ireland, in 1830; he was educated in the national schools, and at the age of 20 years he went to Wales, and was employed in an iron manufactory until April, 1853, when he came to the United States; after spending one year in New York City, he settled in Joliet, Will Co., Ill., where he followed various kinds of business until 1863; he spent three years of this time in attending the Academy there; he hauled the first load of stone for the Illinois State Penitentiary in that city; in 1863, he removed to Chicago, and in 1865, to Pontiac, where he has resided ever since. He was elected the first Street Commissioner of Pontiac under the city organization, holding the office three years, during which time he was Assistant City Marshal. He was foreman of the Pontiac Coal Mine, and broke the first ground in the sinking of the shaft in 1867. He was married Oct. 17, 1859, to Miss Catherine Hand, and has three children livingDaniel J., Charles J., and Elizabeth A.

MRS. MARY O. BABCOCK, farming and stock raising; P. O. Pontiac; was born in Farmington, Maine, April 11, 1834;

she was educated at Farmington Academy; in 1862, she came to Livingston Co. and engaged in teaching. She was married on the 29th of December, 1862, to the late Joseph S. Babcock, who was born in Prattsburg, Steuben Co., N. Y., June 26, 1831. In 1850, at the age of 19 years, he entered Lima College, where he graduated in 1854; after completing his college course, he came West, and invested quite largely in land in Livingston Co.; returning East, he engaged in merchandising in New York City, where he remained until the Fall of 1860; he then removed his stock of goods to Pontiac, and came to Livingston Co. to reside; after following the dry goods business for two years in Pontiac, he sold out and engaged in farming; he had been very successful as a merchant, and, after moving upon his farm, dealt quite extensively in stock; he died July 6, 1869, leaving two children-Mary H. and Joseph S. Mrs. Babcock resides on her farm near Pontiac, where she owns 532 acres of land, valued at $30,000; she still continues in the stock business, and during the past two years has devoted a great deal of attention to fine stock; she has erected three tenant houses on her land, and keeps a hundred head of cattle and large numbers of horses, etc.

A. L. BABCOCK, dealer in groceries, crockery, etc., Pontiac; was born in Albany County, N. Y., Dec. 22, 1851; in 1856, his father, W. C. Babcock, removed with his family to Livingston Co. and located at Pontiac, where he followed farming for about four years, and then engaged in the hardware business for a number of years, and finally for about seven years previous to his death he was engaged in the grain and stock business; he died Feb. 14, 1876; Mr. Babcock's mother still resides in Pontiac; the family consists of three children-Albert L. and two sisters, Emma and Sadie. Mr. Babcock was educated in the public schools of Pontiac, and at the age of 21 engaged in the grocery trade, which he still continues. He was married Sept. 12, 1877, to Miss Nettie Packer, of Pontiac, who was born in the State of New York Jan. 20, 1854.

L. R. BANCROFT, horticulturist, Sec. 24; P. O. Pontiac; is a native of Wayne Co. N. Y.; he was born on the 6th day of