John Lied has been in possession of his present comfortable homestead, on section 27, in Oneco Township, since the spring of 1885. This was formerly the old William Krope property, which was entered from the Government by Mr. Belknap many years ago, and which has been under a steady process of cultivation since that time. The buildings erected at an early date have since been remodeled and enlarge by our subject, and the whole premises form one of the most pleasant pictures in the landscape of Oneco Township.

Mr. Lied is one of that class of citizens who inherited from their Pennsylvania ancestry the qualities which have served them so well in their efforts at building up homes in the wide West. His birth took place in Lancaster County, Feb. 27, 1837, and his father was Benjamin Lied, the son of William Lied, also a native of the Keystone State. The first representatives of this branch of the family emigrated from Germany to America in the Colonial days and located in Pennsylvania, in which State many of their descendants still reside. William Lied, the grandfather of our subject, followed the joint occupations of farming and weaving, and was the parent of one children only, his son, Benjamin. The latter was left fatherless when fourteen years of age, and being unusually bright and industrious at this early period, rented his mother's farm, and continued in that vicinity until eighteen years old. He had also learned the weaver's trade, which he followed in connection with farming until he was nearly fifty years old. In the meantime he had come into possession of the homestead by the death of his mother and had accumulated sufficient means to enable him to purchase a larger area of land than this contained and of which he was very desirous. He consequently sold the old homestead and purchased a large farm adjacent, to which he afterward gave his entire attention. Five years later he sold this also and determined to try his fortunes in the West. Coming to this county he purchased land in Buckeye Township, where he built up a comfortable homestead and where he still resides, being now seventy-five years of age.

Benjamin Lied, when eighteen years of age, was married to Miss Mary, daughter of John Fry, a thrifty farmer of Lancaster County, Pa. Of this union there were born six children. Our subject remained under the parental roof until after reaching his majority, and then commenced learning the carpenter's trade, at which he labored successfully some years. He was united in marriage, Jan. 3, 1860, with Miss Sarah, daughter of George and Ann Wittenmeyer, who was born in Union County, Pa., in 1841. Her father, also a native of the Keystone State, was a carpenter by trade, which he followed all his life and died at his comfortable home in Stephenson County about 1874. After their marriage Mr. and Mrs. Lied commenced life together on the farm of Mrs. L's. father, which our subject rented three years, and then determined to join the caravan moving westward to the Prairie State. He sold out all his possessions in his native county, but in the meantime the Rebellion being in progress and there being an urgent call for troops, he laid aside his personal plans and interests and in October, 1864, enlisted in the 32d Illinois Infantry, in which he served until the close of the war. He met the enemy in various skirmishes and in the fight at Mission Ridge was taken prisoner, but was released by the advent of Sherman's and Kirkpatrick's army. The war, however, was nearing its close, and he was discharged with his comrades at Wilmington in the spring of 1865. After being mustered out he returned to Orangeville and resumed his trade as a carpenter, and for nine years thereafter was mostly employed in the vicinity of Freeport. He spent one year, however, at Orangeville, and then having accumulated a snug little sum of money, wisely invested it in fifty acres of land in Buckeye Township. He resided there engaged in farming nine years, and then selling out purchased his present homestead. Of this he took possession at once and has since been industriously engaged in cultivating the soil, and adding the improvements which have rendered it a valuable and attractive piece of property.

Mr. and Mrs. Lied have but one child living, Edwin, born Sept. 24, 1875, and now a bright lad of twelve years, who shows remarkable mechanical skill. He has manufac-tured a locomotive and train of cars complete which would do credit to a skilled mechanic of mature age. The eldest son, Stanton, died when five months old. Our subject, like his father before him, is an active member of the Lutheran Church, and closely adheres to the principles advocated by the Republican party.

Contributed by Carol Parrish from Portrait and Biographical Album of Stephenson County, Ill. (1888), p. 664