Joshua W. Barber

A resident on section 30, Lenox Township, engaged in agricultural pursuits, is a son of Aaron W. and Ann C. (Hill) Barber, natives of New Jersey and Ohio respectively.  They had a family consisting of six children, of whom J. W.. Barber was the second in order of birth.  He was born in Clermont Co., Ohio, Aug.13, 1831, and lived at home with his parents until 1846, when he came to Knox County, this State, and there resided until 1857.  We next find him in Warren County, where he located in Lenox Township, and has been a resident of this place ever since.

In October 1864, he enlisted in the 30^th ILL. Vol. Inf., and served for about nine months, and, on receiving an honorable discharge, he returned to his home in this county and again engaged in the peaceful pursuits of life.  His farm comprises 85 acres of good tillable land, which, by his industry and economy has been all improved.

Joshua W. was married in Knox County, this State, on the 15^th of November 1855, the lady chosen to be his companion in life being Mary A. Woodmansee, who was a native of Ohio.  Albert F., who is a conductor on the Rock Island & St. Louis Division of the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy Railroad; and Edith V., the wife of Wm. K. Kittering, a resident of Monmouth Township, are the two children of Mr. and Mrs. Joshua W. Barber.

Mr. B. has served his township as Clerk and School Director, and politically he is a Republican, and St. John man in temperance.  Mr. and Mrs. B. are members of the Methodist Protestant Church.

Nathaniel A. Rankin

General farmer and fruit-grower, on section 31, Monmouth Township, was born in Henderson Co., Kn., Feb. 1,1809.  His father, Adam, was a doctor by profession and a native of Pennsylvania, and of Scotch descent.  He was married in Kentucky, near Danville, to a Miss Speed, who afterward died, leaving five children.  Before the death of his wife he had moved to Henderson County, in another part of the State, and there formed his second matrimonial alliance, the lady being Miss Susan Roan Anderson, who was born in Virginia, and was a daughter of a farmer and came to Kentucky when quite young.  Of the latter union five children were born, of whom out subject, Nathaniel A., is the eldest and the only survivor.  His brother, James E., was shot by a band of marauders while in his store in Henderson County, because he was a Union sympathizer.  He was a prominent merchant and member of the Presbyterian Church.

Nathaniel A. Rankin, of whom we write, resided with his parents until the death of his father, living with his mother afterward until his marriage.  He has been twice married,-- the first time to Miss Ann Louisa Holloway, third child of George Holloway, of Bourbon Co., Ky.  The acquaintance, which led to this union, was formed while she was on a visit to her relatives in Henderson Co., Ky., and was celebrated at that place March 29, 1831.  She lived only a little over two years after her marriage, her demise occurring Dec.18, 1833.  His second marriage was celebrated near Paris, Bourbon County, Ky., on Christmas day, in the year 1834, the lady chosen to share his joys and sorrows, successes and reverses, being Miss Martha Holloway, a daughter of George Holloway and sister of Hon. Robert Holloway (see sketch).  She was born in Bourbon County, Dec. 7,1816, and was reared in her native county, remaining at home with her parents until her marriage.  They were farmers, and father died in Bourbon County.  The mother’s demise occurred at the home of one of her sisters, the wife of Gen. W. F. Thornton, of Shelbyville, ILL.  Mrs. Rankin was the fourth child of her father’s family of seven children, and she has become the mother of ten children, seven of whom are living:  William H. is married and engaged as a furniture dealer in Monmouth, where he resides; Adam is also marred and engaged in agricultural pursuits in Johnson Co., Kan.; Anna is the wife of D. E.. Thompson, a stock speculator, and resides in Los Angeles, Cal.; Mary married William H. Irwin, who is engaged in the real-estate in Dawson Co., Neb.; George C. is Clerk of the Circuit Court of Warren County; Belle and Robert reside at home, the latter operating the homestead.  Three of Mr. Rankin’s children died in infancy.

Immediately after marriage Mr. and Mrs. Rankin came to Illinois, locating at Springfield, where Mr. R. had established himself about 12 months prior to his marriage in the mercantile business.  After marriage he lived there for about nine years, doing a successful business in his line.  He went thence to Shelbyville, ILL, and embarked in the same business and remained for about three years.  In 1845, he came to Warren County, and settled in Monmouth, where he carried on an extensive business in produce and general merchandise.  He was thus occupied until 1861, when he came to his present farm, which consists of 80 acres of land, and which is under an excellent state of cultivation.  As a fruit-grower he has done exceedingly well, and at the annual fairs he represents his products, which always take away a share of the laurels.  Grapes and strawberries are his specialty.

Mr. Rankin has ever taken an active and prominent part in every enterprise having for its object the advancement of the public interest.  He has always been found associated with the best and most prominent people in the county in laboring for the public good.  He has been called upon to fill many public positions, which he always did with a high degree of satisfaction to all concerned.  He was one of the first Aldermen of Monmouth, and during the years 1859-60 was Mayor of the city.  He was United States Internal Revenue Assessor of his district for six years, from 1862-to 1868.  He served as Supervisor for two years and Justice of the Peace for eight years.  In 1864 the Warren County Agricultural Society elected him President, and re-elected him the following year.  In 1868, when the Warren County Reading Room was first organized, he was chosen President of the Board on Directors, and was a member of the Board of Directors of the Warren County Library from 1870 to 1879, the latter institution growing out of the Reading Room.  Thus it will be seen, as above stated, that he has been both an active and a leading spirit in the affairs of Monmouth and Warren County for years.  He never has pushed himself into position, but being recognized as the man best fitted for the work in hand was selected without opposition.

Politically, Mr. R. is a Republican, and takes a prominent part in politics.  Mr. Rankin, wife and daughter Belle are active members of the Christian Church, and he has been Elder of his congregation for nearly 40 years, which position he is filling at the present time.

We are pleased to present to our patrons the portrait of Mr. Rankin, which we do in connection with this sketch.  Et will be gladly received by his many friends all over the county who have so long and favorably known him.

F. W. Meacham

Spending the sunset of his life in ease and comfort at Roseville, was born in Kentucky, July 26,1830, and is a son of Andrew and Elizabeth (Jones) Meacham, natives respectively of North Carolina and Kentucky.  They came to Illinois in 1838 and located in Sangamon County, where they purchased 120 acres of land and remained for two years; the elder Meacham then sold out there and came to Warren County and made a purchase of a farm where the village of Ellison now stands.  Here he remained for four years.  He next located three miles west of Roseville, on a tract of 80 acres of land.  He subsequently went to New Lancaster, where he was engaged in the dry goods and grocery business for a number of years.  After selling his interest in the latter enterprise he purchased 80 acres in the southeast part of Ellison Township, upon which he resided until his death, in 1878, the death of his wife occurring a year later.  Their family consisted of nine children, five of whom are living – Miles G., Lavina, Frances W., Etna and Achilles.

F.W. Meacham, the gentleman whose name heads this personal narrative, remained the companion of his parents until he reached the age of 20 years, in the meantime receiving a good common-school education.  After leaving home, he rented a farm for the first year, and in 1851 made a purchase of 80 acres, located on section 34, Ellison Township, and upon this he resided for 20 years, entering actively and energetically upon the task of its improvement and cultivation, adding by subsequent purchases 269 acres.  He, in the year 1870, purchased a house and five acres of land at Roseville, where he resides.  This he has since increased by a ten-acre tract.

Mr. F.W. Meacham was married in 1851 to Miss Harriet Herring, a native of Pennsylvania.  She has borne him seven children, as follows: Edward, Nora, George, Casa, Luther, Oscar (deceased) and Flora, who died when 12 years old.  Edward married Miss Mary Bragg, and they have a family consisting of four children, -- Frederick, William, Clara and Angie.  Nora married William Buckley, and George is in partnership with the last named gentleman in the hardware business at Roseville.

Mr. Meacham is a Republican and with his wife belongs to the Methodist Episcopal Church.

Josiah C. Lucas

One of the largest land-owners in Warren County and also one of her most successful farmers and respected citizens, resides on section 18, Cold Brook Township.  He has been a resident of this county during his entire life, having been born in Monmouth Township, July 30,1832, and has consequently witnessed the development of the county to the present magnificent agricultural condition which it presents to-day.

The farmer of Mr. Lucas of this sketch, Marsham Lucas, was a native of Hart Co., Ky., and a farmer by occupation.  He was married in his native county to Miss Cynthia Ann Whitman, likewise a native of that county and State.  They emigrated to this State in 1829, locating in Morgan County, and after a residence there of some time, came to this county, in 1831, where Marsham Lucas purchased land from the Government, located on section 31, Monmouth Township, and where the parents continued to reside until the death of the mother, which occurred in October, 1837.  Marsham Lucas, by his first marriage, had five sons and two daughters.  In order of birth they were, Thomas H., now a resident of Oregon; Christopher W., who died in 1880; Albert W., also a resident of Oregon; Sarah E. became the wife of Elijah D. Butler: they moved to Oregon, where they both died; Josiah C. was next in order of birth; Emily J. became the wife of James M. Ellis, and they live in Palmyra, Mo.; and Samuel C., a resident of Indiana.

The gentleman whose name heads this article was a child of five years at the date of his mother’s death.  He was the youngest but two of his parents’ children, and after the death of his mother, his father was a second time married, when Mrs. Elizabeth Davidson, nee Deweese, became his wife, with whom Mr. Lucas of this sketch continued to reside until four years after attaining his majority.  In 1865 his father and step-mother moved to Abingdon, where they are at present living, retired from the active labors of life and enjoying their accumulations of the past.

Josiah C. Lucas resided with his parents until he was 24 years old, at which time he was married in the township of his nativity to Hannah J. Townsend.  She was a native of Putnam Co., N.Y., born March 22,1833, and came to Illinois with her parents when a young lady.  She resided at home, acquiring an education in the common schools and assisting her mother in the household labors, until her marriage to Mr. Lucas.  Her parents are both deceased.  They were James and Polly (Baldwin) Townsend.  They became residents of this county in 1855 and were farmers and members of the Baptist Church, and Mr. Townsend, in politics, was a Democrat.

Our subject and wife have had born to them eight children, namely: Berry, who married Katie B. Jamison: they live near Abingdon, Knox Co., Ill, where he is engaged in farming and the breeding of Polled Angus cattle; Guy is deceased; Ola A. is now a student of law at the Chicago Union College of Law: he is a graduate of Knox College; James L., Jessie E., Rosa J., Harry C., and a daughter who died in infancy, are the names of the other members of the family.

After Mr. and Mrs. Lucas were united in marriage, Mr. Lucas made his first purchase of land in Cold Brook Township, consisting of 80 acres, on which he located and engaged actively and energetically in its improvement.  Hw has subsequently, by his energy, good judgment and perseverance, added to his original purchase of land in this county at different times until he is at present the proprietor of 1,800acres of good farm land, the same being located in Cold Brook, Floyd and Monmouth Townships, and some in Knox County.  The landed interests of Mr. Lucas have been acquired through that indomitable energy and perseverance of which he is characteristic.  He is a gentleman possessed of far more than ordinary ability as a business man, and is regarded as one of the successful farmers of Warren County.  He is also engaged in breeding thoroughbred Polled Angus cattle.  A view of his home is shown on another page of the Album.

Mr. Lucas and his wife are members of the Christian Church, and in politics Mr. Lucas is a believer in and a supporter of the principles of the Democratic Party. 

Timothy Thomas

An energetic and successful agriculturist of Lenox Township, Warren County, is a son of Reuben and Lucy (Sprague) Thomas, and a native of Ohio, having been born in Clermont County in August, 1830.  His parents were natives of New Jersey and New Hampshire respectively, and of their union four children were born,--Zuba, Alonzo, Timothy and Alice.  Zuba is deceased.

Timothy Thomas, the subject of this biographical sketch, remained at home, working on the farm and attending school when opportunity presented itself, until he attained the age of majority, at which age he came to Warren County and worked out by the month for two years.  At the expiration of that time he rented land and improved cultivated it for three years, when he engaged in working with his father.  After thus being busily engaged for several years, he accumulated sufficient to enable him to purchase a tract of 120 acres of land, of which he is now the possessor.  Having entered actively and energetically upon its improvement, he has it now under an advanced state of cultivation, with a good residence and other necessary buildings upon it.

July 7,1870, in Knox County, this State, occurred one of the most important events in the life of Mr. Thomas, it being his marriage to Miss Leannah Neff, a daughter of Jacob and Mary (Shoemaker) Neff, natives of Virginia.  Jonathan, Jackson, Sally, Catherine, Rebecca, Melvina, Leannah, Susan, Joseph, Mary and Elias are the names of the 11 children born to Mr. and Mrs. Neff.  Leannah, now the wife of Timothy Thomas, our subject, was born in Virginia, March 28,1840, and with her husband has become the parents of four children,-- Mary B., Asa, Charles and Lucy B., ass residing at home with their parents.

Mr. and Mrs. Thomas are members of the Baptist Church, and politically Mr. T. casts his vote with the Republican Party.

Schuyler Palmer

Schuyler Palmer, a resident on section 15, of Spring Grove township, is a pioneer of Warren County of 1845. He is one of the leading farmers of the township and has reached prominence through the extensive business relations he has established in the county. He was born November 24, 1831, in the province of Ontario, Canada, and is the son of Wilkinson and Nancy Hurd Palmer. His parents were born in the same portion of the country as himself. The father was born of parents of New York Origin and those of the mother were originally from the State of Vermont. The ancestors of the latter were originally from Connecticut and later from New Jersey, and later still from New York. The father of Mr. Palmer removed with his wife and children to Whiteside Co., Ill., in 1842. Here they made their home in the vicinity of Prophetstown until the year named as that in which their removal to Warren County was effected. On coming to this county they located in Hale Township, where the father rented land until 1851, when a tract of 80 acres of land was purchased. It was wholly unbroken and the first move made was to build a house for the accommodation of the family. It was made of logs and was occupied for the purpose for which it was constructed three or four years. The family then took possession of a new frame house which the father built on the homestead. Prosperity attended him in his business relations, and he was soon enabled to make other purchases until he became the owner of 200 acres of land, a portion of which was located in Henderson County. His death occurred in July 1878, and that of his wife some years previous. Eight of their 11 children are now living.

Sarah is the wife of Jeremiah Young. They are residents of Ida Co., Iowa. Ira A. lives in Ringgold Co., Iowa; Minard resides in the same State, in the county of Harrison. George W. is a farmer in Hale Township. Manada A. is married to B. C. Darrah, of Henderson Co., Iowa. Eliza lives in Pottawatomie County, in that State. William is a resident of Otoe Co., Nebraska.

Until he became himself the head of a family by marriage, Mr. Palmer was a member of the household of his father and mother. His marriage to Lucy A. Mills took place December 25, 1856. She was born in Henderson County and is the daughter of William H. and Lucretia Morris Mills, who were early settlers in the county where their daughter was born. William H. Mills, the father of Mrs. Palmer, was a native of New Jersey, but when fives years of age his parents removed to Dearborn Co., Ind., locating near Lawrenceburg, where he became a farmer,  William H. there grew to manhood, and, in 1836, married Lucretia Morris. Three years later he moved to Henderson Co., Ill., and settled upon a farm in Greenville Township, where they now reside. Here Mrs. Palmer was reared, and received her education in the neighboring district school. She was born in a log cabin two miles west of where her parents now reside. Her mother was a native of Eastern Pennsylvania, and is of Scotch parentage. Her mother's parents were Amos and Johanna Morris. William H. Mills' parents, the paternal grandparents of Mrs. Palmer, were Cyrus and Nancy Mills.

About the time of his marriage Mr. Palmer bought the northeast quarter of section 1 of Spring Grove Township, which is now the site of that part of Alexis that is in Warren County. It had never been cultivated in any sense, being still in its original condition of wild prairie land. He built a house on the north line of the county and made the first improvement on the place in the spring of 1856. This was previous to his marriage. He bought the farm in the fall preceding. He made the usual improvements, and that place was his home and field of operation until his removal to the farm on which he has lived since the spring of 1867. At that time he sold the place of which he was the first owner and has since occupied the property on sections 10 and 15. There was already a good house on the southwest section first named and this was the family abode until he fall of the same year in which they took possession of it, when it was destroyed by fire. They moved to another house which had been erected on the farm, which they occupied until 1871, when Mr. Palmer built the frame house in which they now live and which is situated on section 15. He has also increased the value and appearance of his estate by building other suitable and excellent farm structures, which are without doubt the most substantial in Spring Grove Township. and among the finest in Warren County, Illinois. We are pleased to be able to present a view of these on page 258. He is the owner of 400 acres of land, and in addition to the common business of farming, is engaged in raising Durham cattle of extra grade.

Mr. and Mrs. Palmer have 11 children. Mary E. is the oldest. Alice J. is the wife of Charles Gallagher, who is a resident of Ringgold Co., Iowa. Lillian married Fred L. Gilmore, who lives on section 9, Spring Grove Township. A sketch of the parents of Mr. Gilmore may be found on another page of this work. Effie A. is married to Robert Armstrong, of Spring Grove Township. The younger and unmarried children are named Henry w., Myron G., Mattie, Lura, Eva, Kate, and George w.

Mr. Palmer is a Democrat in his political views, and has held the office of Road Commissioner for 17 years. Mrs. Palmer became a member of the Baptist Church at the age of 13 years, and in 1869 Mr. Palmer also became a member of the same Church. Three of their eldest daughters are connected with the Baptist Church, while the next three younger are members of the Church of God.

John Wingate

John Wingate, a well-known and highly respected farmer of Greenbush Township, who is actively engaged in the cultivation of his excellent farm, was born Feb. 1, 1815, in Maine, and is the son of Edmund Wingate, a  native of that State. His father was unite din marriage with Rebecca Whitney, also a native of Maine, and they had four children,--Hannah, Daniel, John and Lydia. John Wingate, subject of this biographical notice, came to this state in the fall of 1838. He was married to Miss Annis Dibble, March 5, 1844. She was born in Chenango Co., New York, March 1, 1820. Her father, John Dibble, was a soldier in the war of  1812. In 1819, he married Martha Brown, who was born in New York in 1801. Of her parents' union five children, Annis, Elizabeth, Erastus P., Laura., and Thomas, were born. Of the union of Mr. and Mrs. Wingate of this notice five children have been born, namely: John J. (deceased), Ann Eliza (deceased), Arthur L., Ella, and Eva.

Mr. Wingate, with his wife and children, are pleasantly situated on their fine farm of 250 acres, all of which is under an advanced state of cultivation. He has held the offices of Justice of the Peace, Township Clerk, Assessor and Treasurer of the School Board for 39 years. In Politics he votes with  the Democratic party. What he has of this world's goods, he has accumulated with his own strong hands and the active co-operation of his good help-meet, and is passing the sunset of his life in peace and quiet at this pleasant home on section 20, Greenbush Township, Warren County, Illinois.

Aleri Rodgers Graham, M. D.

Aleri Rodgers Graham, M. D., a medical practitioner at Littler York, was born in the township of Hale, in Warren County, August 24, 1854. His parents are pioneers of the township where he was born, and are John R. and Mary Rodgers Graham.

Dr. Graham obtained a good common-school education as a foundation, in his boyhood, and afterwards attended Monmouth Academy one year. In 1878, he commenced the study of medicine under the preceptor-ship of the medical firm of Hamilton, Marshall & Holliday, at Monmouth. After leaving their office, he matriculated at Rush Medical College in Chicago, and took his degree as M. D. at that institution in 1881.

He inaugurated his career as physician and surgeon at Cameron, in his native county, and operated there two years. Since 1883, he has prosecuted the business of his profession at Little York. He is building up a popular and prosperous practice, and his thorough preparation for the responsibilities of the calling to which he has devoted his life, is fast winning for him the confidence of a substantial patronage.

In Political belief and relations, Dr. Graham is a Democrat.

The marriage of Dr. Graham to Miss Emma Alcock was celebrated Feb 14, 1880. They have one child, named Frederick. The mother was born in Suffolkshire, England. The Doctor and his wife are members of the United Presbyterian Church.

Joseph W. Vorwick.

Joseph W. Vorwick, the only manufacturer of the Vorwick celebrated road-cart is located at Monmouth, where he began in a limited way to operate a shop upon his own responsibility in 1879. He first opened out as a repairer of all sorts of vehicles, his capital consisting of his strength and skill, but from the he very beginning, almost, the capacity of his shop showed increasing business, until he now stands at the head as a manufacturer in his line in this country.

The patent of Mr. Vorwick, being an anti-horse motion road-cart, is the nearest a perfect success that has ever been reached in that most useful and economical of all vehicles. Mr. Vorwick was born in Fort Madison, Iowa, Feb 1, 1849, and was the eldest of five sons born to Joseph and Elizabeth Vorwick, natives of Germany. He was schooled at Fort Madison and Burlington, Iowa, and at the latter place, when about 16 years of age, began the trade of carriage painter, which he perfected at Galesburg, Knox County, Illinois., some three years later. From 21 to 29 years of age, Mr. Vorwick did "jour" work through the various cities of the country, and in 1875 planted himself at Monmouth, with the determination to man a shop of his own by the time he should arrive at the age of 30 years. That he succeeded has already appeared. In addition to the Vorwick Road-Cart, he manufactures all sorts of first class carriages and buggies, and the truth compels us to place his name in the Album as the representative man, in his line, at the city of Monmouth.

Mr. Vorwick was married at Monmouth, in 1876, to Miss Jennie Eilenberger, daughter of Daniel Eilenberger, who died while a soldier in the Union Army. Mr. and Mrs. Vorwick have two children--Ida and Maudie.

James Kelsay

James Kelsay, formerly a resident of Swan Township, was born in Kentucky in 1805. He came to Illinois when he was a young man and located in the southern portion of Sangamon County which by a later division, was set off to Christian County. He occupied his time in farming, and, in 1834, was married to Elizabeth Vandervere, who was born in Indiana in1815. They continued to reside in the county in which they were married until the fall of the year succeeding. In that season they removed to Warren County. They passed the first year in Floyd Township and then fixed their residence in Swan Township. They bought land there and the husband erected a log house. He lost no time in making the improvements customary in a prairie country and the work was far advance at the time of his death. That event occurred in August, 1844. His widow was his survivor for 28 years, her demise occurring Aug 28, 1872. Their children numbered six and there are five still living. Mary J. is the wife of Israel Jared and they are living in Point Pleasant Township. Margaret A. is married to James Jared and they live in Swan Township. John A. is a citizen of the township. William resides in the State of Missouri. Samuel B. lives in the township where his father and mother resided.

Mrs. Kelsay was married in 1847 to John Blue. They had three children. Cynthia is married to Benjamin Kidder and they also reside in Swan Township. Absalom v. is a citizen of Shenandoah, Iowa. Bailey R. lives in Nebraska. the parents were both members of the Baptist Church.

William Spencer Almond

William Spencer Almond, now deceased, was formerly a resident in the township of Point Pleasant. He was born Oct. 11, 1811, in Louisa Co., Va. His parents removed in his youth to Kentucky and were pioneers of Warren County, that State. Wyatt Almond, his father, was a man of superior abilities and education and was a soldier in the service of the united States in the War of 1812. He followed the profession of teacher in Kentucky and was a resident of that State after his removal there until the time of his death. The name of the lady who became his wife was Susannah Ware previous to her marriage to him. After his death she came tot Illinois and married Thomas Gunter, and finally died in Swan Township, this county. Five of her children are her survivors. a daughter, Mrs. Elizabeth Watkins, resides in Shenandoah, Iowa. Thomas lives in Point Pleasant Township. William S. was the next in order of birth. Mrs. Susan Collier resides in Arkansas. Zachariah D., is a citizen of Union Mills, Mahaska Co., Iowa.

Mr. Almond, of this sketch, was brought up in the county in which he was born. He was married in Kentucky, to Miss Nancy Spradling, who was a native of that State, and died there in 1852. She left six children: William Allen lives in Union Mills, Iowa. Martha J. is the wife of Joseph Johnson, of Point Pleasant Township. Thomas J. is a farmer in the same. James W. was a soldier in the 83d Ill. Vol. Inf., and was killed at Fort Donelson.  After the death of his first wife, Mr. Almond was married to Sarah A. Hawkins. Mrs. Hawkins was born in Warren Co., Ky, March 3, 1818. She was the daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth Meyers Hawkins. Mr. H. was an Englishman by birth and his wife was native of Virginia. They both died in Edmonson Co., Ky. The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Almond took place about the year 1854. She, by a former marriage, to Mitchell Spradling, had four children: Mary F., wife of George Ewing, a resident of Mills Co., Iowa. James K. olives in Kansas. Rebecca, wife of L. W. Simmons, and lives in California. Angeline, wife of Weldon Worrell, and a resident of Mills Co., Iowa.

The family removed to Illinois in 1852. They traveled with ox-teams and brought with them all their household belongings, and they lived in the gypsy fashion while on the road. Mr. Almond made a location in the township of Swan, where he bought 50 acres of land on section34, on which he lived four years. At the end of that time he sold the property there and removed to Point  Pleasant Township, where he bought 160 acres of wild land, on section 34. This was the homestead until the death of the father, which occurred May 12, 1884. All the property was under improvement, and the proprietor had increased his acreage until he was she owner of 320 acres in that township and another considerable tract in Iowa. Mr. Almond had built farm structures of a character suited to the farm. He was a quiet man and good neighbor, a member of the Methodist Church, and in political sentiment a Democrat.

Of the second marriage which has been mentioned there were three children, of whom two are living, They are named Andrew S. and Jesse E. The latter was born April 30, 1859. He received his education in the public schools, and was married to Lydia J. Larkins, June 13, 1880. Mrs. Almond was born in Warren County, Jan 22, 1860, and is the daughter of Samuel and marry Smith Larkins. Wernie E., is the only surviving child of Mr. and Mrs. Almond. Their first child was named Ora Dell, and she died when less than nine months old.

Mr. Isaac N. Almond, the youngest son by the former marriage, was in his second year when his mother died, and he was brought to Illinois by his father. He was trained and educated in the manner common to the sons of farmers, and the first important event of his life was his marriage to Mary E. Waters, which took place April 23, 1876. She was born in Ohio, Aug. 5, 1855. Her death occurred March 17, 1881. In September, 1882, Mr. Almond was again married to Etta C. Prather. She is a native of Abingdon, Knox Co., Ill. Two children were born of the first marriage. Their names are Elvin Walter and Eva J. George C., is the name of the only child of the second marriage.

James Smith

James Smith, an agriculturist prosecuting his vocation on section 16, Berwick Township, was born in Greene co., Ohio, near Xenia, September 15, 1841, and is a son of James Smith, who was born in Pennsylvania and died about 1850, in Ohio, and whose father, Joseph Smith, died at Jeffersonville, Ind., about 1841, the year in which the subject of this sketch first saw the light of day.

James Smith, at the date of his father's death, was but nine years of age, and accompanied his grandfather on his mother's side, by the name of Broadstone, to this State. His grandfather came from Wales to this country, and to this State in 1850, and located in Crawford County and there died. Some three years later, in the spring of 1856, James, the subject, came here  and located near Monmouth.

He enlisted in the War for the Union, joining Co C 83d Regt. Ill. Vol. Inf., under Capt. L. B. Cutler, of Monmouth, and was mustered into the service in that city. His regiment was ordered to Fort Henry, Ky., where it remained for some 25 days and was then ordered to Fort Donelson, some 12 miles distant. He participated in the fight of Fort Donelson, Feb. 3, 1863, and after that battle he was stationed at the fort until June, 1865, when he was mustered out at Nashville, Tenn., receiving his final discharge and pay at Chicago, July 5, 1865,  where upon he immediately started upon the train for his home in Monmouth Township, Warren County, Illinois.

Mr. Smith, of this notice, was united in marriage with Abbie S. Pike, march 25, 1879. She was born June 5, 1850, in Stoughton, Mass. Her father Augustus H. Pike, was a native of Maine and died while in the Union Army, in 1861, some six months after he had enlisted. He married Miss Mary T. Southworth, of the literary family of Southsworths, who was born in Boston, Mass, in 1823, and died in Dubuque, Iowa, in 1855. Mrs. Smith was a resident of Galesburg, Knox Co., Ill., at the time of her marriage, where her western relatives live. To Mr. and Mrs. Pike three children were born, Abbie S., ........leave off come back

George W. Fish

George W. Fish, engaged in agriculture on section 4, Berwick Township, was born in Oneida Co., N Y, July 28, 1820. He is son of William A. Fish, a native of Connecticut, in which State he was born April 1, 1788, Mr. Fish, father of the subject of this notice, is one of the pioneer settlers of this county, coming here in 1836, and purchasing 71 acres of land on section 4, Berwick Township. Previous to his coming to this State and county, he had followed his trade, that of a carpenter, in Oneida co., NY.

On arrival in this county, he located on his land and there resided actively engaged in its cultivation until his death, May 4, 1845. He was an industrious man, kind-hearted and generous, and took an active interest in any an all measures that were calculated to benefit the community in which he resided actively engaged in it cultivation until his death, May 4, 1845. He was an industrious man, kind-hearted and generous, and took an active interest in any and all measure that were calculated to benefit the community in which he resided. He was married to Miss Lydia S. Allen Feb 4, 1816. She was born Sept 25, 1798, in Oneida Co., N. Y., and died March 23, 1885. Of the union four children were born, ---Helen, June 22, 1820, George, July 28, 1822; Allen, Jan 21, 1828, and Albert April 4, 1831. Two children are deceased.

George W. Fish came to this State with his parents, and located  with them on the old homestead in Berwick Township, this county. He has followed agricultural pursuits all his life, and at present is engaged in the same occupation on the identical land on which his parents first located when they came to the county. Mr. Fish has never enjoyed the "Blessings" of double blessedness, but has a most amiable and intelligent housekeeper in the person of his sister. She was born in 1820; never married, and is a member of the Presbyterian Church, as was also her mother. In politics, Mr. Fish votes with the Democratic party.

Charles S. Colver, M. D.

Charles S. Colver, M. D. has been a medical practitioner in Warren County since 1853. He was educated primarily in the common schools of the county in Ohio, where he was born, and at the age of 19 he commenced the study of medicine at Middlebury, in Logan county, under the instructions of Dr. Walker. Later, he read under the advice of Dr. Davenport, of Woodstock, in Union County. When was thoroughly grounded in he course of his reading, he repaired to the college at Cincinnati, and at a later date he attended lectures at Starling Medical College in Columbus, Ohio. He was graduated from the latter institution with the degree of M. D. in he same year in which he came to Warren County, Illinois, A few months prior to finishing his studies at Starling he operated as a physician in Montgomery County, and he went thence to New California, in Union County, where he was engaged at the time he completed his collegiate course. He started for Illinois immediately after his graduation. He brought his family with him as far as Hennepin, on the Illinois River, whence he came to Little York with team to decide for himself as to the feasibility of the place for his business. He also made examination of other localities and decided on Little York as a suitable place for his purpose. He brought his household to that point and it has since been his field of operation. Three years after his removal hither he bought a piece of wild prairie in Mercer County situated eight miles from Little York and his family removed to it. The doctor continued his practice and hired laborers to effect the work of improvement on his land. After a residence there of about a decade he sold out and removed to the farm he now occupies on the northeast, quarter of section 20. He has rebuilt the house which was on the place, erected a barn and otherwise improved the farm.

Hadassah Hamilton became his wife in 1848. She is a native of Greene Co., Ohio. She was the daughter of Robert and Hadassah Gillispie Hamilton. Her parents were of Scotch-Irish origin. The grandparents came to this country about 1770 and settled in Pennsylvania. They moved from the above State in 1812, and settled near Xenia, Ohio. Mrs. C., was born March 11, 1825, she being the oldest of four children born to her parents, viz: Hadassah T., Hannah M., Mary, and James G. Two are deceased, Hannah M., and Mary J. Dr. and Mrs. Colver have had the following children: Rosa, their first-born died when about 18 months old; Robert O., married Miss Bessie Watt, a native of Pennsylvania, and now resides in Sedgwick Co., Kan., ;Mark S. married Jennie Brownlee, a native of Warren County and lives in Georgetown, Co., and have one child---Pearlie; Charles B. married Mrs. Libbie Smythe, a native of New York, and they one child--Hadassah, named after it s grandmother. They are now living in Edwards Co., Kan.; Olive born July 25, 1853, died Sept 14, 1885; Abi H. and merle D. are the youngest children, and reside at home. The various members of the family of Dr. Colver are members of the Unite Presbyterian Church. Dr. C., is a believer and supporter of the principles advocated by The Republican Party.

William R. Rayburn, one of Warren County's most prominent well-to-do and respected farmers, and a resident of section 36, Ellison Township, was born near Mr. Sterling, Montgomery Co., Ky, Oct 18, 1822. His father, George Rayburn, a farmer and native of the same State, was son of an old Kentucky family who settled there in its early history. He was first married in Montgomery County to Miss White, who died a few years later without issue. After the death of his wife, George Rayburn went to Ripley Co., Ind., where he was again married to Susan Shafer, a native of Virginia and daughter of farmer, and old soldier of the Revolutionary War, having enlisted when only 16 years of age. After marriage, Mr. Rayburn returned to Montgomery County, settling near Mr. Sterling the county seat and while residing there the subject of our memoir was born. When but an infant his parents again returned to Ripley Co., Ind. and located upon a farm where William R., was reared, educated and resided until his marriage. His parents died there some years after his marriage.

The date of the marriage of William R. Rayburn with Miss Sarah Roberts, daughter of John and Jane Salyers Roberts, natives of Kentucky, took place Nov 17, 1854, in Jefferson Co., Ind. where her parent had moved some time previous. Her parents were very early settlers in Southern Indiana. They both died there.

Warren E. Taylor, M. D. Health Officer, and one of the prominent young physicians and surgeons of Monmouth, was born at Waukesha, Wis., May 24, 1854. His parents, Evander T. and Isabelle Irving Taylor, were natives respectively of the State of Vermont and New York, and descended from the old Puritan stock of New England; were married in Genesee Co., N. Y., and subsequently were among the Pioneers of Waukesha Co., Wis.

The gentleman whose name heads this biographical notice received his literary training at the State University, Madison, Wis., and when about 18 years of age began reading medicine with Q. O. Sutherland, at Janesville, Wis. The following year he entered Hahnemann Medical College, at Chicago. He graduated from that institution with the degree of M. D, in 1876, after receiving a full course. He was demonstrator of Anatomy for one year after his graduation., Monmouth was the scene of his first professional experience, and from here, after a suc

            More to come....

biographies below were typed by Carol Parrish of Warren Co., IL and emailed to me. Have a happy day. thanks so much Carol....

N. Thomas Patton, of the firm of Patton & Beedee, dealers in flour, seeds, pumps, agricultural implements, lime, cement, etc., at Monmouth, Ill., was born in Adams Co., Ohio, Nov. 20, 1831.  The parents of Mr. Patton, John S. and Jane (McCague) Patton, reared two sons and two daughters.  The senior Mr. Patton was twice married (see biography of R.S. Patton). 

            The subject of this biographical notice was brought up on his father’s farm.  Of the children Mr. Patton was the third in order of birth and the second son.  At the common schools he acquired a good English education and taught successfully for several years in Ohio.  In 1855 he came to Illinois and resided in Peoria County up to 1868, teaching school in the meantime, five or six winters, and carrying on a farm during the summer.  In 1868 he removed to Warren County and was engaged in the occupation of an agriculturist, in Hale Township, for about ten years, coming thence to Monmouth, where he has since been engaged in his present business.  His first partner was M. A. Gidding; his second, D. C. Goudy; and the third, Mr. Beedee.  Mr. Patton was a successful farmer and is likewise a popular and successful merchant.  Before coming to Monmouth, he was two years School Trustee, and since residing here he has represented his ward two years in the city council.

            Mr. Patton formed a matrimonial alliance with Miss Esther Stevenson, in Marshall Co., Ill., Oct. 16, 1856.  Mrs. Patton died in 1877, leaving four children – Ella J. (Mrs. R. Miller), Charles, Nannie B. and Alice.  Mr. Patton’s second marriage occurred at Monmouth, in 1878, the present Mrs. Patton having been Mrs. Eliza J. Davidson, nee Black.  Religiously, both Mr. and Mrs. Patton are members of the United Presbyterian Church. Portrait and Biographical Album of Warren County, Illinois (1886), Chapman Brothers of Chicago, p. 423. 

ROBERT S. PATTON, Treasurer of Warren County, was elected first in 1879 and re-elected in 1882, term to expire in December, 1886.  The gentleman whose name heads this notice was born in Adams Co., Ohio, Jan. 16, 1837, and was the first child of five born to John S. and Sarah (Morrison) Patton, natives respectively of Virginia and Ohio.  They were of Irish extraction.  The father was married before to Miss McCague, and by that marriage four children were the result – George A., Mary J., Nathaniel T. and Martha.  Of this marriage all are deceased except Nathaniel T.  He married Esther Stevenson, she being a native of Ohio and now deceased.  The five children of the second marriage are Robert S., Carrie S., Eliza M., John H. and Sarah; the latter died while young.  Cary S. married Miss Lizzie Harsha; Eliza married J. B. Woods; John H. married Sarah M. Woods.  Judge Robert Morrison, grandfather of Mr. P., on the maternal side of the house, was an officer in the war of 1812.  His grandfather, Nathaniel Patton, on the paternal side of the house, was one of the first defenders of his country.

            Mr. Patton settled in Hale Township in 1860.  His parents came the next year and in that township spent the rest of their lives, the senior Mr. Patton dying in 1863, aged 64 years, and his widow in 1876, at the same age.

            Robert S. Patton lived on his father’s farm in Hale Township, which he had previously bought from the heirs, until the spring of 1880, when he removed to Monmouth to take charge of the office that he was elected to fill.  He has always been a consistent Republican, but his selection for the office which he so ably filled was made not so much on account of his politics, as his fitness.  With the exception of the School Treasury of his township, which he handled for 12 years, the present is the only official position he has ever filled or sought to fill.

            Mr. Patton was married in his native county to Miss Sarah Ann Sheppard, on the 2d of February, 1860, and of the seven children born to him, Anna S., George, John and Guy are living, and three were buried in infancy.  Mrs. Patton was the daughter of Johnston and Mary (Henry) Sheppard.  She was born in Adams Co., Ohio, June, 1839.  Her parents came from Ohio.  Her parents are of American origin as far back as known.

            Mr. Patton belongs to no secret order, but has been many years a consistent member of the United Presbyterian Church.Portrait and Biographical Album of Warren County, Illinois (1886), Chapman Brothers of Chicago, p. 558, 561. 

EDWARD L. BLODGETT, a farmer of this county, having a good title to 280 acres of land, located on sections 4 and 9, Hale Township, where he resides and is engaged in its cultivation, was born in Orleans County, N. Y., Feb. 4, 1834.  He received a common school education in Indiana, his parents having removed to that State when he was but six years of age.  In the latter State, Edward L. lived, labored and developed into manhood.  One year after attaining his majority, in 1856, he came to this State, locating in Henderson County, where he resided for upwards of a year, engaged in farming, then returned to Indiana.  Two years he remained in the Hoosier State, and in the spring of 1860 came back to Illinois, this time locating in Warren County.

            On coming to this county, Mr. Blodgett worked out for about four years, when he settled in Hale Township.  He was a soldier in the late civil war, having enlisted Feb. 20, 1864, in the Tenth Ill. Vet. Inf., and served his country for about 18 months.  He was engaged in all the battles in which his company took part participating in the grand review at Washington; was with Sherman in his march to the sea, and received an honorable discharge at the close of the war.  He then returned to Warren County, and engaged in the vocation of agriculture, and has lived here following that occupation until the present time.  The major portion of his land is under an advanced state of cultivation.

            The marriage of Mr. Blodgett dates July 3, 1866, at which time, in Henderson County, Miss Dolly Vanwinkle became his wife.  She was born in Jefferson Co., Iowa, and has borne her husband eight children, whose names are recorded as follows:  Wilson M., Joseph R., Margaret, Mary B., Edward L., Clara, James A. and Emma.

            Mrs. Blodgett is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and her husband politically is a believer in and a supporter of the principles advocated by the Republican party. Portrait and Biographical Album of Warren County, Illinois (1886), Chapman Brothers of Chicago, p. 471-472. 

WILLIAM CROSBY became a citizen of what is now Kelly Township in 1848.  He was born in 1815, in Augusta County, Va., and is the son of George Crosby, a native of Pennsylvania.  The latter was born in 1862, and settled in the “Old Dominion” in 1804.  He bought a farm in Augusta County and was its owner and occupant through the remainder of his life.  He was by trade a blacksmith, and during the second contest with Great Britain he made horseshoes for the use of the soldiers of the American army.  His wife was a native of the county where her son was born.  He was reared on the farm and was a pupil in what was call the “subscription school.”  He grew to the age of manhood in Virginia and married Maria Wagner, in September, 1839.  She was born in Augusta County, in 1817.

            For the next eight years Mr. and Mrs. Crosby remained on the homestead of his father and in 1847 started to find a home in the West.  They traveled to Harrison County, Ind., with two horses and a wagon, and lived there about a year.  In March, 1848, they again turned their faces toward the setting sun, setting out on the 16^th of that month with the same outfit as that with which they had left Virginia the year previous.  They arrived in Warren County on the 2d day of April, and took possession of a claim which the father had secured the fall previous.  It consisted of 80 acres, and after a few years it was found that the title was defective and Mr. Crosby was obliged to pay for the property a second time.  Since he secured himself in its ownership he has been a continuous resident on the place.  He is at present the owner also of 80 acres on section 1, in the same township, and 21 acres of timber on section 13.  He and his wife have nine children living – Ruth, May, Elizabeth, George, Sally, John, Benjamin, Melinda and Augustus.  Mr. Crosby has been a life-long adherent of the Democratic party.Portrait and Biographical Album of Warren County, Illinois (1886), Chapman Brothers of Chicago, p. 348.  

JAMES OWENS, of Point Pleasant Township, is one of the prominent members of the farming community of Warren County.  He is the owner of 400 acres of fine land located on section 12, which is in an exceedingly good condition for successful farming.  Mr. Owen is a descendant from ancestors, who, by their bravery in the contests with Great Britain, for the liberty of this country, earned for their succeeding generations the indisputable rights of American citizens.  He was born in Tennessee (Hawkins County). Dec. 17, 1819, and is the son of James Owen.  The latter was the son of William Owen, who was born in South Carolina, and was a soldier of the War of the Revolution.  Among the battles in which he is on record as having been a participant, were Kings’ Mountain, Cowpens, Eutaw Springs and Camden, besides many smaller engagements.  He died in Hawkins Co., Tenn.  His son, James Owen, was born in Anson Co., N. C., March 25, 1789, and he was only six months old when the family removed to Tennessee, where they were pioneers of Hawkins County.  The Indians of that section of the country were still troublesome and for a short time after the arrival of the family in that State, they resided in a fort.  James Owen, Sr., there reached the years of maturity and still a young man when the War of 1812 again called the citizens of America to defend her from British encroachment.  He enlisted and was in the action called the battle of Horse-Shoe.  He married Sarah Lantor, who was born in Rockbridge Co., Va., about two miles from the Natural Bridge.  After marriage, Mr. Owen settled on a portion of the large tract of land which his father had bought in Hawkins County.  Not being a friend to the slave element, however, he at last resolved to emigrate to some one of the free States, and, accordingly, made preparations to leave the section in which he had been born and reared.  He set out with a horse and carriage, containing all his household goods.  His wife rode on horseback, carrying the two youngest children, while the two eldest daughters, aged respectively 14 and 16, walked the entire distance to their destination in the State of Indiana.  All else was abandoned by Mr. Owen in his eagerness to retreat from the hated institution, being determined that his children should not grow up within its influence.  A location was made in Floyd County, where they settled on 80 acres of timber.  A “patch” of land was cleared and a log house erected.  The heavy timber was removed by hard and persistent labor and there the wife and mother died in 1835.  In the year following that event, Mr. Owen sold his place and again set forth with his family for a new start in the role of a pioneer.  He and his four children rode on horseback to McDonough Co., Ill., at which place they stopped and located, instead of going to Flint Hills (now the city of Burlington), Iowa, where they had originally intended to settle.  They made their home in the northwest part of McDonough County, at a point designated as the “Job Settlement,” where a tract of land was purchased, on which they resided until 1844.  The father then sold out again and sent to Missouri, but remained there only a short time, returning to Illinois and locating in Henderson County.  There James Owen, the subject of this biography, who had never been separated from his father during the many migrations of the family, bought 80 acres of land on which his father died in October, 1845.

            On the small farm in Henderson County, where a frame house had been built and some other nominal improvements made, Mr. Owen resided until 1851, when he sold out and came to Warren County.  He made his first purchase of land in Swan Township, of which he was the occupant between two and three years.  He then sold out and bought the farm upon which he now lives, located on the northwest quarter of section 12, in Point Pleasant Township.  No improvements of any character had been made on it, but the owner soon accomplished the necessary work which put it on a footing of equality with the numerous farms of value in the county.  It is also supplied with all the needed outbuildings of substantial structure.  Besides 400 acres under cultivation Mr. Owen is the owner of 50 acres of good timber land in Swan Township.

            Mr. Owen had small advantages for obtaining any education in the schools, but his mental caliber is such as to supply all deficiencies of that character.  He was fond of reading and possessed the natural sagacity to render it a source of profit and a means of intellectual cultivation.  His powers as a natural mathematician are something remarkable, and he probably stands at the head of that class of geniuses in the State.  He is a Republican by inheritance and inclination and has been a strong adherent of the party since its organization.

            July 23, 1846, Mr. Owen was married to Demarus E. Emerich.  She was born in Fayette Co., Ohio, July 14, 1829, and became the mother of 11 children.  They were named James C., Jacob E., Sarah A., John A., Joseph S., Mary J., Lucinda, Mary F., Cassius C., William C., and George G.  The eldest son (James C.) was born May 6, 1847, and died June 2, 1880, from disease contracted during his service in the late war as a member of Co. H, 83d Ill. Vol. Inf.  He left a wife and four children.  Mary J. died at the age of nine years.  Lucinda died in infancy.  Mary F. also died in early childhood.  Cassius C. was born May 1, 1861, and died Sept. 21, 1885.  He left a wife and one child.

            The parents of Mrs. Owen were Jacob and Abigail (Cooper) Emerick, natives respectively of Virginia and Ohio.  They removed hither in 1832.  The father died March 12, 1855, near Fort Scott, Kan.  The mother died Nov. 1, 1877.Portrait and Biographical Album of Warren County, Illinois (1886), Chapman Brothers of Chicago, p. 452-453.