BYRON L. PICKARD is a farmer in comfortable circumstances, living in Erin Township. His parents were John W. and Margaret (Allen) Pickard. The father was born in Cayuga County, N. Y., Aug. 12, 1818, while his wife first saw light in Brockville, Canada, July 21, 1821. John W. Pickard came to Stephenson County when he was about twenty-one years old, with his mother, Julia (Coleman) Pickard. They settled in the northern part of Erin Township, where the mother continued to reside until her death. John W. married Margaret Allen, who came to Stephenson County with her parents in 1841, locating in Erin Township, where they died. After John W. Pickard married, he and his wife located in the northern part of Erin Township, wherE they lived for several years. They then removed to the residence of our subject, where the father died in May, 1883. The mother still survives, and resides in Erin Township. They had a family of six children – William H., Byron L., Criscilda J., Mary E., George O. and Martha E. William resides in Erin Township; Byron is the subject of this sketch; Criscilda was the wife of John Wagner, and died in Iowa; Mary died when sixteen years old; George resides in Lena; Martha was the wife of R. S. Hartzell, and died in Erin Township.

The subject of our sketch was born on section 1, Erin Township, July 28, 1844. He was reared on a farm, received a common-school education, and has always been engaged in agricultural pursuits. He has been a resident of Erin Township since his birth, and has prospered in his business. Commencing life with nothing he has amassed a competency, being now the owner of 175 acres of valuable land, upon which he has erected good buildings, and considerably improved the property. He was married in Freeport, Ill., April 6, 1871, to Miss Hattie A. Brigham, daughter of Hiram W. and Mary Z. (Sutliff) Brigham, the father being a native of New York State, and the mother of Connecticut.

Mr. and Mrs. Brigham, after their marriage, first settled in New York State, afterward removing to Wayne County, Pa., where they lived until the fall of 1869, when they came to Stephenson County and settled in Freeport, where they died. The father, a farmer by occupation, died Nov. 21, 1874, and the mother Sept. 11, 1884. They had ten children, as follows: Joseph W., Mary A., Amy S., George S., Webster, Hiram, Carrie, Truman, Hattie A. and Luther A. Joseph died in Wayne County, Pa.; Mary is the wife of George I. Piersol, and resides in Ida County, Iowa; Amy S. is the wife of William F. Preston, and resides in Freeport; George resides in Wayne County, Pa.; Webster died when twelve years old; Hiram died in infancy; Carried is the wife of George H. Wood, and resides in Freeport; Truman was a member of Co. I, 84th Pa. Vol. Regt., and died at Fredericksburg, Va.; Luther resides at Freeport.

Hattie A., the wife of our subject, was born in Wayne County, Pa., Sept. 17, 1845, and came to Stephenson County with her parents. Mr. and Mrs. Pickard are the parents of three children – Charlie M., Bertie E. and Mamie E. Mr. Pickard in politics is a Republican, and has held some of the minor offices of the township. Both he and his wife are attendants of the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Contributed by Carol Parrish Portrait and Biographical Album of Stephenson County, Ill. (1888), p. 579