at $10,000. Married, in 1842, to Sarah Tinney, who was born in Luzerne, N. Y.,¦ in 1823; twelve children by this union, eight living-Almira B. (wife of M. Popejoy), born Sept. 25, 1843; Aaron, Jr., Aug. 23, 1848; Josephine (wife of E. Clawson), March 7, 1856; Eliza (wife of Joseph Hardway), Oct., 1851; John, Feb. 24, 1858; Asa, Dec. 1, 1860; Louisa, Sept. 26, 1863; Isabelle, Aug. 15, 1868; lost four-Henry, born 1845, died in the army, date of death not known; George, born in 1847, died in the army in 1865; Mary, born in 1856, died in 1861; Laura, born in 1866, died in 1871.

JOHN G. STEERS, farmer, Sec. 5; P. O. Fairbury; born in Boone Co., Ky., Oct. 26, 1834; removed to Illinois in early childhood with his parents, who settled in Belle Prairie Township in the Fall of 1836; the subject of this sketch now resides on the original homestead; owns 267 acres of land, valued at $8,000. Has served as Commissioner of Highways two terms, School Director in District No. 3, six years. Married in 1855, to Miss Mary A. Travis, who was born in Belle Prairie Township, this county, Oct. 1, 1838; nine children by this union, eight of whom are living-Laura E., Elizabeth S., Frances M., Linza B., Minnie E., Nancy T., William H., and Ida M.; John M. died June 26, 1872.

MARTIN J. STEERS, farmer, Sec. 1; Lawndale Township, McLean Co.; P. O. Fairbury; born in Belle Prairie Township, this county, Dec. 11, 1839, his father, Hugh Steers, being one of the early settlers of Livingston Co., Ill. Married in 1863, to Miss Harriet S. Bentley, who was born in Geauga Co, Ohio, Jan. 22, 1844; there are four children by this union-Fannie E., Winnie E., Leroy N., Arthur L. Mr. S. enlisted in Co. K, 3d I. V. C., August, 1861; discharged in December, 1862.

RICHARD SMITH, farmer, carpenter and builder, Sec. 3; P. O. Fairbury; born in Fayette Co., Penn., Dec. 25, 1827; removed to Harrison Co., Ohio, with his father's family, in 1842, where he resided until the Spring of 1854, then removed to Illinois, locating in Belle Prairie Township, this county; owns 120 acres of land, valued at $5,000. Has served two terms as Township Collector. Married, in 1856,

to Miss Amanda L. Spence, who was born in Indian Grove Township, this county, in 1837; seven children by this unionLouisa J., Margaret M., Francis D., Phrona, Richard L., Mary E. and Zelpha

H.

JOHN D. TRAVIS, farmer, Sec. 5 P. O. Fairbury; born in Belle Prairie Town-hip, this county, May 2, 1843; his father, Martin M. Travis, being one of the early settlers of the county; owns forty acres of land, valued at $1,600; has served one term as School Director. Married in 1864, to Alice Sharpless, who was born in Ohio; she died in 1866; one child by this union-Minnie; she died in 1867; was again married in 1870, to Morning J. Houston, who was born in Monroe Co., Ind., June 12, 1848; four children by this union-Ethel A., Mintie E., Raymond H. and Dennis D. Mr. Travis was one of a committee chosen to settle the troubles growing out of what was known as the Potosi war, mentioned elsewhere in this history.

MARTIN M. TRAVIS, farmer, Sec. 5; P. O. Fairbury; born in Overton, Tenn., July 4, 1811; removed to Illinois with his father's family in Oct., 1834, locating in what is now Belle Prairie Township, this county; owns 195 acres of land, valued at $8,000. Married, in 1837,to Miss Eliza Thompson, who was born in Boone Co., Ky., March 31, 1814; twelve children by this union, five living-Mary A. (wife of John G. Steers), Rachel (wife of L. Crumbo), John D., Adaline (wife of J. Moore), Frances (wife of E. Mitchell); lost seven-Dancy, died Jan. 23, 1840; Nancy, March 6, 1840; Almira, March 19, 1853; Elender, Dec. 27, 1856 ; Syrena, Nov. 7, 1860; Elizabeth A., Dec. 17, 1860, and Minerva, Feb. 3, 1877.

GEORGE M. THOMAS, farmer, Sec. 14, P. O. Potosi; born in Windham Co., Vt., July 27, 1826; removed to Illinois in October, 1852, locating in Will County; in the Spring of 1860, he removed to Belle Prairie Township, his present home; owns 160 acres of land, valued at $5,600; has served as School Trustee nine years, and is now Justice of the Peace. Married Jan. 24, 1861, to Miss Huldy R. Bedell, who was born in Clinton Co., Aug. 19, 1832.

HENRY R. WORRICK, farmer, Sec. 7; P. O. Potosi; born in Licking Co.,

Ohio. Dec. 16, 1837; removed to Illinois in the Fall of 1854, locating in Woodford Co., and two years later to Belle Prairie Township, this county. Married, in 1862, to Phebe Cunningham, who was born in Cheney's Grove, McLean Co., Ill.; one child by this union-Lewis D.; was again married in 1868, to Mariah Lyon, who was born in Jefferson Co., N. Y.; four children by this union-Annie, Byron, Benjamin and Ella.

GEORGE WORRICK, farmer, Sec. 9; P. O. Potosi; born in Maryland, Jan. 26, 1810; removed to Greene Co., Penn., in childhood, with his parents, in 1819, where he resided until 23 years of age; then removed to Licking Co., Ohio; came to Illinois in October, 1854, locating in Washburn, Woodford Co.; removed to his present home in March, 1857; owns 287 acres of land, valued at $12,000. Married in 1832, to Miss Eliza Cumpston, who was born in Greene Co., Penn., July 31, 1815; eight children by this union, seven of whom are living-Henry, Luther, Charles, Jacob, Mary (wife of William Johnson), Mariah (wife of Alex. McKnab), Harriet (wife of John Skein); lost one, John, died Aug. 7, 1871.

CHARLES farmer, Sec. 4; P. O. Fairbury; born in Franklin Co., Ohio., April 11, 1843; removed to Illinois in the Fall of 1860, locating in Indian Grove Tp., this county; owns eighty acres of land, valued at $2,800. Married, in 1875, to Miss Elizabeth Hieronymus, who was born in Belle Prairie Tp., this county; one child by this union-Elles B.

H. WESTERVELT,

WILLIAM YOUNGE, farmer and dealer in choice stock, Sec. 2; P. O. Fairbury; born in Metamora Tp., Woodford Co., Ill., Aug. 11, 1836, his father, Benj. Younge, being one of the early settlers of that county; the subject of this sketch came to this county in the Spring of 1866, locating in Belle Prairie Tp.; owns 200 acres of land, valued at $12,000; has served as Commissoner of Highways one term. Married, in 1865, to Miss Nancy Hatten, who was born in Brown Co., Ohio, April 22, 1844; four children by this union— William H., Mary E. and Ida M.; Sarah A. died March 22, 1869. Mr. Younge is giving considerable attention to the breeding of fine Devon cattle and PolandChina swine.

JONATHAN ASKEW, farmer, Sec. 14; P. O. Pontiac. Baptist; Independent. Owns 120 acres, valued at $30 per acre; born in Northamptonshire, England, Aug. 23, 1835; resided in England until he was about 23. At the age of 21, married Maria Perks, of Warwickshire, England; she was born March 24, 1832, and died Nov. 20, 1873, leaving four children, all of whom are now living. Married Caroline Ipsen Jan. 19, 1875; she was born May 1, 1851, in Denmark; have one child

Mary Maria, born Feb. 4, 1876. He'd office of Supervisor from Rook's Creek Tp. two terms; also office of Commissioner of Highways, which office he now holds. The names and births of Mr. A.'s children by his first wife are as follows, viz: Ernest Alfred, born in England, May 12, 1857; John, born in Illinois, Jan. 31, 1865; Thomas, born July 10, 1867; Anne, born Feb. 14, 1871.

SAMUEL ALGEO, farmer; P. O. Pontiac. Presbyterian. Owns ninety-one acres, valued at $40; born in County Donegal, Ireland. Married Fanny Margaret Algeo June 7, 1865; emigrated to this country in 1866, landing in New York City in August of that year; remained there three weeks, then came to Livingston Co., and settled where he now resides; have had seven children, five of whom are now living-Alexander, born in Ireland, March 24, 1866; Martha, born in this county, Sept. 25, 1867, died Aug. 27, 1868; Robert, born Dec. 3, 1868; Catherine, born Nov. 4, 1870; John, born Feb. 27, 1871; an infant, without name, born March 5, 1872, died next day; Fanny May, born Nov. 1, 1875.

DANIEL BLAKE, farmer, Sec. 1; P. O. Pontiac; owns 188 acres, valued at $45 per acre; born in Monroe Co., Ohio, Dec. 16, 1838; resided there until 14 years of

age; came, with his parents, to La Salle Co. about the year 1852; remained there one year; then came to this county. Married Desaline Earp May 28, 1862; she was born in this county Aug. 18, 1841; have had ten children, six of whom are now living-Charles William, born Jan. 18, 1863; John Ellsworth, born Sept. 23, 1864; Manda May, born Feb. 28, 1867, died when 10 months old; Henry, born Sept. 14, 1868, died when 3 weeks old; Frances Gertrude, born Oct. 25, 1869; Theron, born March 31, 1871; Sarah Ellen, born March 18, 1873; Ezekias and Josias (twins), born Nov. 28, 1875, died in infancy; Ida Pearl, born Jan. 6, 1877.

GEORGE E. BENNITT, farmer; P. O. Pontiac; owns 108 acres ; born Nov. 9, 1848; his father, Thomas S. Bennitt, was one of the early settlers; he was born in New York State, Jan. 31, 1822; he came to Illinois in 1850; resided in Kane and Kendall counties about seventeen years, then removed to this county, settling in Rook's Creek Township, where he died March 12, 1872. He was married Aug. 4, 1842, to Mary Brown; she was born in New York, March 7, 1821; is living, and resides with the subject of this sketch. Mr. B. is one of nine children, only three of whom are now living-Cora Bell, born March 29, 1858; Willy H., born May 13, 1862; those deceased are Grant Bennitt, died Oct. 28, 1864; Clary E., died Jan. 8, 1868; Emily Gertrude, died Dec. 8, 1870; Anna, died Feb. 29, 1872; Cynthia M. (married to C. Atwood), died May 26, 1872; Green Bennitt, died April 19, 1867.

SAMUEL EARP, farmer and stock raiser, Sec. 4; P. O. Pontiac. Non-sectarian; Independent. Owns 380 acres of land, valued at $40 per acre; born in Columbiana Co., Ohio, May 31, 1829; came to this county in 1856; settled on the place where he now resides in 1861. Married Caroline Earp May 13, 1858; she was born in Ohio Feb. 18, 1834; have no children. Held office of Road Commissioner two terms; also two terms Supervisor. Mr. E. had a brother, Charles W. Earp, who served during the late war in the 57th I. V. I.; he died the 15th day of December, 1868, from disease contracted in the army.

JESSE GREEN, farmer; P. O. Pontiac. Methodist; Independent. Owns 196

acres, valued at $40; born in Northamptonshire, England, Nov. 25, 1829; resided there until 1852; then emigrated to this country, settling in Bloomington; land at that time could be bought near the latter place for $1.25 per acre. Married in England to Esther Haddon, April 13, 1852; it was the next month (May) that he emigrated to this country; had two children by that union, both now living-George E., the eldest, resides at home, unmarried; the second child, Martha Jeanette, is married to Jacob Gilman and resides in Nebraska Township; his first wife died in the Fall of 1857; in the Spring of 1858, went across the plains to California in company with Wm. Earp, Henry Jones, James Morrow, Isaac Earl, Robert Earl and others from Pontiac; remained in California three years, then returned to this country. Married Sarah Jane Tanner (widow of Boyd P. Tanner, formerly of the 129th I. V. I., and who died when in the service; she had two children, a boy and girl-Samuel B. and Ann Maria) Jan. 26, 1864; have three children, all livingMarietta, John T., William Jesse.

Mr.

GEORGE B. GRAY, farmer and stock dealer; P. O. Pontiac; owns 640 acres, valued at $40 per acre. Non-sectarian; Republican. Born Oct. 3, 1834, in Livingston Co., N. Y.; he removed with his parents, when 3 years old, to Orleans Co.; resided there twenty years. Married Mattie A. Boynton Nov. 19, 1857; she was born June 15, 1835, in Orleans Co., N. Y.; have only one child -Nellie A., born Sept. 16, 1863. G. removed to this State in 1858, and settled where he now resides; his farm at that time was in a state of nature, all improvements having been put on by himself; at the present time about 300 acres are under the plow; the balance is in pasture and meadow. Has held various town offices; is at present a member of the Legislature of this State; was elected to the Thirtieth General Assembly in Nov. 1876, receiving 6,884 votes, a majority of 1,500 over his opponent. Mr. G. received his education in the common schools, which he attended during the Winter months while living on a farm.

JOHN JOHNSON, farmer; P. 0. Pontiac; owns 220 acres, valued at $40 per acre; born in Ontario Co., N. Y.,

Feb. 14, 1804; he removed with his parents, when quite an infant, to Erie Co., N. Y.; remained there until he was 16 years of age, then removed, with his parents, to this State; settled on the place where he now resides in 1833, where he has resided ever since; the first twenty years of his residence he was engaged in wagon making in connection with farming. He was married in Sangamon Co., this State, March 17, 1825, to Nancy Bloyd; she was born in Maryland, Oct. 25, 1805; when she was 1 year old, she removed to " Ky." with her parents; remained there until she was 15 years old, when she came with her parents to Sangamon Co., this State; have had ten children born to them, six of whom are living-the oldest, William, was born Jan. 2, 1826; he served nearly four and one-half years in the 29th I. V. I., during the late war; John, born Sept. 1, 1827, died Jan. 30, 1853; Lydia, born Oct. 6, 1829; she married William Cherry, who went to California in 1859, in company with the subject of this sketch; Elizabeth, born Dec. 19, 1831; she married Benj. Blue; he died in 1872; Henry, born Jan, 5, 1834; he served over four years in the 3d Ill. Cav., during the late war; Eleanor, born Sept 9, 1836, died when 14 months old; Oliver, born Aug. 30, 1838; he served about two years in the 17th Ill. Cav., during the late war; Amanda Melvina, born April 5, 1841; died April 21, 1873; Stephen, born Sept. 14, 1843; he served eighteen months during the late war in the 129th I. V. I.; Lucinda, born March 4, 1846; died Aug. 26, 1838. Mr. J. served one term Justice of the Peace; was the first Collector in the town; held office of School Director. Mr. J. is the oldest settler.

STEPHEN A. JOHNSON, farmer; P. O. Pontiac; born Sept. 14, 1843; lived at home with his parents until he was 19 years of age; then went in the army. After the war, married India Sellman, June 17, 1866; she was born in Brown Co., Ohio, July 18, 1847; have four children-Edwin, born Feb. 9, 1868; John Henry, born Oct. 10, 1869; Stephen A., born Nov. 15, 1871; Sherman, born Nov. 2, 1875. Mr. J. was in the 129th I. V. I. nine months; discharged on account of disability; in 1864, joined the 44th I. V. I.; served about ten months; was in the fight at

| Spring Hill, and the battles of Franklin and Nashville; (the two oldest were born in Iowa, the third in Kansas, the fourth here). Mr. J. removed to Iowa the next Spring after his marriage; in Iowa about three and one-half years, farming; then to Kansas, where he remained four years, during which time he was engaged in bridge building on the Kansas Pacific Railroad; returned to this county in July, 1874, since which time he has been working his father's farm. Mrs. Johnson's father (John Sellman) was in the war of 1812; he died in Rook's Creek Township, Oct. 22, 1874, aged 80 years, 8 months and 20 days.

MATTHIAS NEIFING, farmer, S. 14; P. O. Pontiac. Catholic; Democrat. Owns 215 acres, valued at $40; born in Germany Jan. 4, 1816; came to this country 1846; settled in Chicago that year; remained seven years; then went to Peoria; was there seven years; then to De Witt Co. seven years; then came here and settled where he now resides. Married in Germany, Aug. 20, 1843, to Anna Stannbaugh; she was born in Germany Feb. 19, 1821; have had thirteen children, eleven living— Anna, Emma, John, Mary. Frank, Nick, Kate, Ellen, Matthias, William and Eliza beth; those that died were named Joe I. and Mary Ann. Mr. N. has held office of School Director.

THOMAS RYERSON, farmer; P. O. Cornell; was born in Stavanger, Norway, in 1834; in 1855, came to America, locating in La Salle Co., near Otter Creek, living there about twelve years. During this time he was in the army, enlisting in 1862, in Co. F, 104th Ill. Vols.; he was wounded in the hip at the battle of Hartswell, and soon after was mustered out ou account of wounds. In 1866, came to Amity Tp., but moved in 1875, on to land owned by him in Rook's Creek; he owns 224 acres of land, valued at $35 per acre. He married Elizabeth Larson in La Salle Co. in 1862; she was born in Stavanger, Norway, in 1843; they have had eight children, six living-R. Lewis, Annie (deceased), Caroline A. (deceased), Anna Bell, Theodore, Oliver M. S., R. Adolph and Leonard M.

C. E. SHELTON, farmer and stock buyer; P. O. Pontiac. Non-sectarian; Democrat. Owns 240 acres, valued at