LAFAYETTE
ARCHER, Deputy Sheriff of McLean County, is a native of Genesee County, N. Y., and
was born June 13, 1832. His father, David Archer, was also a native of the Empire State,
and his grandfather, Basil Archer, also born in New York, served as a soldier in the War of 1812, and was held as a prisoner by the
British for some time. After peace had been declared he engaged in farming
pursuits and passed the remainder of his days in the State where he was born.
His son
David, the father of our subject, was reared upon a farm and remained in New York State until 1834. He then came to Illinois, and locating in Bureau
County operated a sawmill there until the following spring, when he
returned to New York
for his family. He proceeded with them to the headwaters of the Alleghany River
and they went on a raft to Pittsburgh, and from
there via the Ohio, Mississippi
and Illinois Rivers,
reached Hennepin, where they took a private conveyance into Bureau County.
Mr.
Archer proceeded with his mill operations a few years, then purchased a tract
of wild land and commenced the improvement of a farm. The principal market for
grain and pork at that time was Chicago,
110 miles distant, and it usually took seven days to make the trip. Upon these
journeys the pioneers carried their provisions, camping and cooking by the
wayside.
David
Archer was a man of resolution and courage, overcame all the difficulties which
he encountered, and lived to see the county developed into prosperous farms,
and railroads running through it. As years passed by the city of Princeton was started and
grew, being located five miles from his farm. After laboring for a period of
over forty years upon the homestead which he established in the wilderness, he
passed his declining days in peace and comfort, and having arrived at the
advanced age of eighty-four years, departed this life in August, 1885.
The
maiden name of his wife was Climena Grovier, who was also a native of New York State, and lived the faithful and
affectionate companion of her husband until within a few months of his death,
her decease occurring January 18 of the same year. Of their union there were
born twelve children, of whom ten grew to mature years.
The
subject of this history was a child three years of age when his parents came to
Illinois. He
attended the pioneer schools and grew to manhood in Bureau
County, assisting his father in the duties of the farm. He then
served an apprenticeship at the carpenter's trade, which he followed in Bureau County
until 1858, and then coming into McLean
County was similarly
occupied until 1862.
The
late war being then in progress he enlisted as a Union soldier in Co. A, 117th Ill.
Vol. Inf., Capt. Kinsey commanding, and served until the close. He
participated with his comrades in the battles of Pleasant Hill
[ed., Louisiana] and Meridian, Miss.,
and at the battle of Nashville
received a gunshot wound which compelled him to remain in the hospital for a
number of weeks. After several other engagements and skirmishes he received his
final and honorable discharge in May, 1865. He then returned to Me Lean County
and resumed work at his trade, at which he has been occupied since that time.
Mr.
Archer was married, Dec. 31, 1855, to Miss Louisa Kinsey, a native of Ohio, and daughter of John and Elinore (Bevans) Kinsey, a
sketch of whom will be found in another part of this work. Of this union there
were born six children, as follows: Cicero H., a resident of Ft.
Niobrara, Neb.; F. Aurelian; Addie, the wife of Bert Rice; William Lewis,
of this county; Hattie L. and Eva E., at home with their parents. Mr. Archer
has served as Collector of Mt. Hope Township, and is fulfilling the duties of
his present position as Deputy Sheriff in an able and efficient manner. He
belongs to McLean Lodge No. 469, A. F. & A. M. [ed., Ancient
Free and Accepted Masons],
and to Harrison W. Ward Post No. 173, G. A.
R.
The
children of David Archer and his wife, the parents of our subject, are recorded
as follows: Emily became the wife of John L. Wilson, and died in Kansas; George W. served as a soldier in the 64th Illinois
Regiment, known as Yates'
Sharpshooters, and now lives in Dakota; Lafayette was the third child; Peru
and LaSalle (twins) also served with their brother George in the 64th Regiment;
Peru died while in service at luka, Miss.,
in 1863; LaSalle lives at Joplin, Mo.; Martin V. served in the 8th Missouri
Infantry [ed., 8th
Missouri Volunteer Infantry], and now lives at Rock Island, Ill.; Milton
resides on the homestead; Lewis C. served in the 146th Ill. Inf. [ed., 146th
Regiment Illinois Volunteer Infantry], and lives at Ft.
Niobrara, Neb.; Ellen became the wife of Edward Nottingham, and occupies a
part of the old homestead. The maternal grandfather of our subject was a native
of New York
and served in the War of 1812. He was of English and German
ancestry.
Mr.
Archer cast his first presidential vote for John C.
Fremont, and has voted for each Republican candidate for that office since that
time.
Portrait and biographical album of McLean
County, Ill. : containing full
page portraits and biographical sketches of prominent and representative
citizens of the county, together with portraits and biographies of all the
governors of Illinois, and of the presidents
of the United States. (Chicago:
Chapman Brothers, 1887), 388. Transcribed
and annotated by Judy Rosella Edwards.
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