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james K. Magie was born in Morris county, New Jersey, January 7tli, 1827, and up to his fourteenth year lived with his parents upon a form. At that early age he left his home and learned the printer’s trade in the office of the Nettark Daily Advertiser, Newark, New Jersey. At the age of nineteen lie abandoned the printing office for a season and entered .upon the occupation- of a school teacher. The I spring of 1849 found him at the city of Brooklyn, where he was employed in the office of the -Brooldyit Daily Advertiser establishment— first in a subordinate capacity, then as foreman, and afterwards ns city editor. While here, in 1849, he was married to Miss Abby A. Smith, who died in May, 1863, leaving two children, one of whom soon followed her to the grave. In 185$ he became acquainted with Miss Mary Ritchie, of New Brunswick, New Jersey, and in the fall of that year she became his wife. In the spring of 1850 he had a serious sickness, which laid him very low for several weeks, but his recovery found him imbued with new hopes aud new resolves. Up to this time his life had been a constant struggle with poverty, sickness, and misfortune. He determined to try his fortune in the Great West, and selling off nearly everything that he possessed, he was enabled to reach Henderson county, in this stole, in the foil of 1850, with bis wife, child, and three dollars in money. During the following winter he taught school in that county, and next spring purchased a working interest in the- Oquauka Plaindealer, of which paper he was the editor for three years, proving himself one of tlie ablest Journalists in the state. Disposing of his interest in that paper, he accepted a position to edit a republican paper at Carthage, Hancock county, during the memorable campaign of 1800. During this campaign Mr. Magie gained some notoriety as a very able and eloquent stump speaker. He held several political discussions with some of the most prominent democratic orators of that section of the stnte, always receiving credit for honesty, fairness, and candor.
In the spring of 1881 he removed to Macomb and assumed the editorial charge of the Macomb Journal, and soon after he became sole proprietor. Upon his removal to Illinois, Mr. Magie applied himself diligently to the study of law, and, upon examination before the supreme court, was admitted to practice in 1801. However, his arduous duties as editor, and the general disturbance caused by the rebellion, prevented him from carrying out his purpose of entering upon the practice of law. In the summer of 1802 he was authorized to raise recruits for the seventy-eighth Illinois regiment, in which he was eminently sucessful. While prosecuting this work he became disgusted with the inordinate desire for office he saw everywhere manifested. Men were needed in the ranks, and he urged that none should stop to think of position, but should pick up a musket and start. Mr. Magie set on example by enlisting as a private, and he saw three years active service, winnings most enviable record ns a sojdier.
' tion, coming home as he went, with his musket oi showed a better record in the army, or were more comrades, than Sergeant Magie.
After being mustered ont, Mr. Magie returned tj sumed charge of the Journal. In J uly, 1885, lie w master at Macomb by Andrew Johnson. This was around the circle,” hut after Johnson ” went back | apostatized, Mr. Magie promptly tendered his resignation. He -subsequently disposed of his Interest in the Journal and purchased one-half of the Canton Register, of which paper he is at present the spicy editor.
Mr. M. has been a clerk in the legislature three sessions, and is now reading clerk in the house of representatives. He Is a man greatly esteemed by his fellow citizens for his great pereevcrence and energy, for his untiring labors in behalf of the town of liis choice, and for his many good qualities ns an editor and citizen.
Granville Barrere, the subject of this sketch, was born in Hillsborough, Ohio, July 11th, 1831: attended college at Marietta, Ohio; read law in the office of Nelson Barrera, and was admitted to the bar in 1854, at Chlllicothe, Ohio. His fi.ther, J. M. Barrere, a native of Kentucky, was a member of the Ohio legislature for two termsalso a member of the board of public works; was In the late war, serving as an adjutant, and is postmaster of Hillsborough at present.
Mr. Barrere was married April 22d, 1850, to Ellen R. Kennedy, of Stanton, Virginia. Their family consists of two sons and one daughter. Mr. B. is a member of the Pulton county bar, and is a prominent and successful lawyer. He came to Canton, where he now resides, in 1858.
Refusing promo-i his shoulder, few thought of by his
i Macomb and re-is appointed post-before lie “ swung his party and
Sands N. Breed wus born in Stonington, Connecticut, August 20th, 1810. His father (Jonas Breed) aud mother, with a family of nine children, removed to Orion.township, Fulton county, May 26th, 1848. His father died in September, 1842, his mother in September, 1800, and his youngest sister in- April, 1809. The remainder of the family are all living, as far us known. Mr. Breed has resided in Canton since 1847. For eight years previous to his removal to Canton he held the office of justice,, and subsequently, at that place, for the same period, including tlie present term. lie has held several official positions of trust, to the entire satisfaction of his constituents.
Myron Phelps, the subject of .this sketch was born in Palmyra. Ontario county. New York. March 17th. 1803 Went to the town of Canandaigua. Ontario county, New York, in 1818. Then removed to Suugamon county, Illinois, near Springfield, in the fall of 1821. C arnc by land all the way. Then removed to Lewistown, Pulton county, Illinois, In October, 1824. Settled in the town of Lewistown, and lived one winter in a log cabin. In 1831 he built the house where he now resides, a view of which will be found in the map. Commenced business in the fall of 1834 for himself, and slill continues to carry ou the business in company with his son Henry. They have one of the best arranged stores in the county.
He emigrated with his father’s family, and was in business with him in Sangamon county, Illinois. His father’s name was Stephen Phelps, and was born in Berkshire county, Massachusetts, March 2d, 1708. His mother’s maiden name was Lois Day. daughter of Samuel Day, was born October 11 t.h, 1777, and died September, 1837. ag«d 59 years. His father died September 13th, 1841, aged 71
Mr. Phelps was married to Miss Adeline Rice, March 24th. 1881, in Cafiton, Pulton county, Illinois, by Joel Wright, Esq., who was one of the justices of the peace. His family consists of ten children, seven living and three dead. The eldest, George, now resides in New Albany, Indiana.' Mary, the wife of John Proctor, now lives at Neeuali, Wisconsin. Henry is in business with liis father in Lewistown. Stephen is a minister of the Gospel (Presbyterian), and lives at Waterloo, Iowa. Harriet, the wife of Charles Proctor, lives in Lewistown. Aurelia and Eliza live at home with their father.
Mr. Phelps was married'to his present wife. Miss Mary Proctor, of Rowley, Massachusetts, at Steubenville, Ohio, April 4th, 1855.
Mr. Phelps was elected sheriff of Pulton county in 1820, and served two years, and in 1830 was elected county recorder for four years. Jias, since that time, given his attention to his private business. Mr. P. is one of tlie most generous and noble-hearted citizens He gives yearly, of his income, onc-tenlh part to every charitable demand made upon him.
Bobert Pritchard, the subject of this sketch, was born on the 11th day of March, 1881, iii Licking county, Ohio j emigrated to Pulton county, Illinois, and settled on the east half of the nor,til-east quarter of section sixteen, Liverpool township, where he resided up to 1870, anil then moved to Lewistown, where he now. resides. Mr. Pritchard was elected sherifl'of Fulton couoty liy the democratic parly in November, 1870, and is the present jailor of the county. Bob is liked by everybody, and makes one of the very best sheriffs Pulton county ever had.
ML Pritchard was married to Rebecca Shelby, of Erie, Whiteside county, Illinois, on the 18th day of November, 1864. They have had five children, all living. The eldest, George W., was born September 28d, 1855; Alice S. .was born February 27th, 1857; Peter L. was born February 8th, 1859; Oliver A. was born March 22d, 1861; and Robert N. was born on the 27th of December,.1864.
A. and G. Kidder, the great hog breeders of Fulton county, reside adjoining the town of Farmington, where they settled in 1845 — upon section 2, 8 north. 4 west. A view ol their residence will be seen elsewhere. They have, without a doubt, some of the best breeds of hogs known. These gentlemen are well and favorably known, and by their'neighbors are looked upon ns model farmers, pleasant neighbors, and valuable citizens.
George Stetson, tne subject of this sketch, was born in New Lisbon, Otsego county, N. Y., Nov. 30th, 1829. He taught school in his native state for several months at nine dollars per month. He came west in the fall of 1851, and taught school south of Elmwood, Peoria county, in this stale; alter which he came to Farmington and clerked for iU,4 H. Reed, remained in their employ several months, and then went into business for himself. With one exception, lie has hce.n iu business longer than in any other man in Farmington.
Mr. Stetson was married to Miss Louisa lteisinger on the 7lh of December, 1854. She was born iu Wayne county, Ohio, May 19, 1881. Their family consists of three children — two sons and one daughter —as follows: Albert L., horn October 8th, 1855; Henry Elmer, born April 2,1861; and Mary Eliza, bom June 5th, 1866.
John Heller was born iu Richland county, Ohio, December 1st, 1815. His father, John Heller, was born in Northampton county, Pennsylvania, in 1786. At about the age of twenty-one he married Belinda Van Aukcn, at the age of twenty-seven moved to Ohio, and in * 1885 lie came to this county. His business was that of farming and stock raising. In 1858 he moved to the village of Culm, where he died in 1863.
The subject of this sketch commenced business for himself at tlie age of twenty, opening up a tanning establisuienl aud manufactory of harness. He also turned to attention to farming and speculating in real estate. Iu 1889 Mr. II. was married to Miss Hannah Baughman. He lias held a lew political positions, and is highly esteemed by liis fellow citizens.
Stephen Y. Thornton was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, December 13, 1881. His father was killed by the falling of a tree, When Stephen was but seven years of age. His mother is a resident of Canton, and is now seventy years of ago.
Mr. T. learned the art of printing in the office of the DoyUstown (Bucks county, Pennsylvania) Democrat. He came to Illinois*!!! June, 1854, settling in Canton, and was employed in the office of the Ledger until the fall of 1856, when he purchased an interest, buying ont Mr. Griffith, the firm being Griffith & Bidamon. In the spring of 1857 he purchased Mr. Bidamon’s interest, since which lime he has had tlie honor of conducting one of the ablest, neatest, and most interesting papers in the country.
Mr. Thorn loti; although not an aspirant for office, has been called upon by his neighbors to fill several important local offices. He was school commissioner for two terms, From 1859 to 1868; was alderman of the fourth wan! in 1865 and re-elected in 1866, and alderman of tlie third want in 1870; was elected one of the members of the board of education in 1869 and re-elected in 1871. Mr. Thornton edits a demo-era tic paper in a community in which liis party is greatly in the minority;-vet all parties admire his many gentlemanly qualities, and few men are more esteemed in Pulton county by all parties thnn the | subject of this sketch.
Luther Birge, the subject, of tliissketch, was born in Towingford, Litchfield county, Connecticut, on the 28lli day of October, 1797. He was married to his first wife, Harriet Curtis, daughter of ('rial Curtis, of New Hartford, Connecticut, in May, 1821. She was born February 20th, 1801, and died May 24th, 1827. They had three children — Luther C., who died May 30th, 1825, and Luther Cornelius and Harriet Adalinc (twins), who died August 18th, 1828, aged one year and nine months. He then married his present, wife, Miss Nancy A. Wilson, daughter of Samuel Wilson, of Hnrwlnton, Litchfield county, Connecticut. She was born at the Onoudugo salt works on the 24th day of September, 1806. They have raised ouly two children, both girls. Harriet A. is the wife of G. W. Cone, who resides at Galva, Illinois, and Carrie A. is the wife of A. N. Wilcox, who now resides, nt. Memphis,-Tennessee.
The subject of this sketch c
> tills county in the hill of 1886. tks coming from Connecticut, traveling both day I all the way. lie landed at Farmington and set-si quarter of section eleven, which was tlieu all me of the best farms in Fulton county, and has re-r since. He was a carpenter by trade, and worked nt number of years, building some of the first houses in The first house he lived in whs a small frame, which was
having b(_____
and uight, by wu tied on the uorlli timber, but is no< sided there ever | his trade for Farmington, used as a place of religious worship for years.
Mr. Birge was one of the first to espouse the cause of abolitionism in Fulton county, and says he has rode days and nights to assist fugitive negroes on their way. He says his house was tlie headquarters lor them twenty years ago. He called the first abolition meeting that was ever held in the county. He is now a strong advocate of woman's rights.
For thirty-six years Mr. Birge was a constant user of thbncco, but during the latter part of his life lias ceased to have anything to do with it. Mr. and Mrs. B. are still living, healthy and hearty, and bid fair to live many years to enjoy the fruits of their past labors.
Jonathan Bordner was born in Pennsylvania in the year 1816, and lived there until 1827, when he moved with his father to Ohio, and staid until 1840, when he came to Illinois and settled on section twenty-five, in Lewistown township, where he has resided ever since. In January, 1842, he was married to Miss Lucinda Burce, daughter of E. II. Burce.
Mr. Bordner lias always been a farmer and stock raiser. He commenced life in very limited circumstances, but lias succeeded until he is now one of the wealthiest and best farmers in Pulton county.' He is the father of thirteen children — six sons and seven daughters— three of whom are dead and ten living; three are married and seven are single and living at home. Mr B. lias always lived a peaceable and quiet life, and is much respected in the community in which he lives.
Jona March ant, the subject of this sketch, was born in Burkley county, Virginia, on the 23d day of September, 1794. He emigrated to Highland county, Ohio, in the fall of 1813, and was married to Sarah Brown, daughter of Daniel Brown, of Manchester, Ohio, on the 3d day of December, 1814. Mr. M. left Ohio in the fall of 1827 and came to what is now known ns Farmington, and settled on the northwest quarter of section thirteen, being the first white family. He built the first log cnbin ever built in Farmington, and tliC first white child horn in the township was ins son Abraham, who now lives in Farmington. Deer and other wild game were very plenty at that
Mr. M. has been a farmer all his life, and has followed a plow for sixty-five years, without missing a single year. He is now living with his third wife. Both are looking hale, and bid fair to live many day to come.
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