who had made it a magnificent place before his death, which occurred in 1865; his wife died on the same day, four hours later. Mr Funk has taken great pains in continuing the improvements on his farm. He makes stock a specialty, and employs numbers of hands. He was in the State Regiment six months. Mr. Funk well remembers the departure of his father, in company with the older boys, James Biggs and others, to Chicago, driving herds of cattle for market, while he was left at home herding cattle. He has stock in the National Bank of Bloomington. They have three children, viz.: Arthur C., Mabel, deceased, and Lawrence.

LA FAYETTE FUNK, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Shirley; was born on a farm in Funk's Grove Township in 1834, and remained there, working for his father (herding cattle and plowing prairie with ox-teams as was customary in those days) until 1860, when he began improving his present farm of 2,000 acres, given him by his father. One remarkable feature connected with Mr. Funk's settlement is that on the 14th of May, 1824, his father settled in the Grove; on the 14th of May, 1860, La Fayette began improvement, and on the 14th of May, 1864, he settled on it with his wife. As stated, he began work on this farm, which was then a "raw prairie," which they have improved, and made one of the most beautiful farms in the county. Mr. Funk's means, by which he improved his farm, was acquired by his rearing and marketing cattle. Many of his lonely hours of night were spent on the prairie herding cattle, while the distant howl of the wolves brought fer and uneasiness upon him. He was married in Clark Co., Ohio, Jan. 12, 1864, to Elizabeth Paullin; born in Clark Co., Ohio, April 4, 1841; they have two children— Eugene D.; Edgar P., deceased. Mr. Funk has held office as Trustee six years; Commissioner of Highways, fourteen years: Town Clerk, four years; Supervisor of Funk's Grove Township, elected in 1874 and still holds that office. He owns stock in the National and National Stock Banks of Bloomington.

F. M. FUNK, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Bloomington; was born Aug. 13, 1836, in Funk's Grove, McLean Co., Ill.. on farm, and remained there, working for his father, until 1865, when he began business for himself on his present farm of 2,200 acres, which was given him by his father. In October, 1865, he married Mary Houser, who was a native by birth of Kentucky; immediately after marriage, they settled on his farm, and began improving and raising stock, and remained there until 1873, when they moved to Bloomington, Ill., where they now reside; but Mr. Funk is on his farm most of the time, buying and selling stock; has on his farm now some 500 head of cattle; he is a partner in the drug store known as the firm of Funk & Lackey, in Bloomington; he has an interest in the Bloomington National Bank. Mr. Funk has held offices connected with schools; is at present member of Board of Education; was Supervisor of Funk's Grove Township four years; was School Treasurer six years. They have three children— Gracy, Laura, Jesse D.

MRS. ELMIRA JONES, farmer; P. O. McLean; was born in Champaign Co., Ohio, Aug. 12,1817; her father's name was McLaughlin; she remained in Ohiq until 16 years old, when she came with her sister, Mrs. Cantrell, with whom she had been making a home since her mother's death in 1827, to Sangamon Co., Ill., staying there one winter; from there she again moved with her brother-in law and sister to McLean Co., now in De Witt Co., and settled on a farm; there she remained until married, in 1831, to Isaac W. Jones, who was born in Clark Co., Ohio, in 1811, where he remained until 10 years old, when he moved to Indiana, and remained about eleven years, after which he came to Illinois by wagon, as was customary, and settled in McLean Co. The first summer after marriage, they settled on his father's farm, moving from there to what is now the "Frisby Farm," which they began improving; while building, they occupied an Indian's home, living in a little tent built out of poles. During the time Mr. Jones was on this farm, he had the brick made with which they built the present house that Mrs. Jones now occupies. In 1857, they moved to their present farm of 250 acres, earned entirely by their own labor and management. They began improvement by erecting a beautiful mansion and cultivating the soil, which was then a raw prairie. Sept. 18, 1868, Mr. Jone3 died, and the management of affairs devolved upon Mrs. Jones. He held the office of Justice of the Peace up to the time of his death; he worked at carpentering and sawing lumber. He was a member of the M. E. Church, and had spent many happy hours talking of the future with his companion, who had been an active member of the M. E. Church since she was 15 years old; he died in 1868, leaving a family of twelve children, viz., Jennie J. (deceased), Ann E., Cyrus H., Silvira, Louis S., Emma (deceased), Lucian W., Isaac A., William W.. Ella, Eli (deceased), and Percival G.; four of the children have taught school, Lucian W. and Isaac A. are physicians; they took a course in Louisville Medical College; Lucian is practicing in this State.

C. H. LAKE, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Shirley; was born Jan. 31, 1830, in Montgomery Co., N. Y.; he remained there until 14 years old, working in a woolen factory in Johnstown, N. Y. In 1853, he moved to Western, Orleans Co., N. Y., and was there one year engaged in farming; he then went to Niagara Co., N. Y., settling at Lockport and engaging in the joiner's trade for some twelve years, after which, he moved to the West, settling in McLean Co., at Lexington, and remaining there engaged in farming, renting of Fulwiler for four years. In 1861, he returned to Niagara Co., N. Y., remaining one year, and then returned to McLean Co., settling on a farm near Shirley, owned by Peleg Soule, which he rented for one year; he then bought 40 acres of Soule, and owned it until February, 1879, when he traded for the Lewis

Jones farm of 160 acres, which is known as one of the finest farms in the township; was Commissioner of Highways for six years. He was married, in 1857, to Roby Dye, a native of Niag

ara Co., N. Y.; they have three children, viz., Frank L., Charles H. and Cora.

GEORGE A. ROSS, farmer; P. O. Heyworth; was born April 19, 1828, in Saratoga Co., N. Y., and remained there until 15 years old; when he was 10 years old, his mother died; his father, some time afterward, married again. In 1843, he moved with his father to Western New York, settling in Middleport, Niagara Co., and attended school and worked for his father at smithing until 20 years old; he then moved to Jeddo, N. Y., and engaged in blacksmithing for himself for fourteen months; thence to Decatur, Ill., and was boss of a company grading on the Illinois Central R. R, for one winter; leaving there, he went to Hudson, Ill., and began working on the Illinois Central R. R., as boss of section hands. Nov. 27, 1853, he was married to Ellen Jackson, who was born in 1838, in Genesee Co., N. Y.; immediately after marriage, they settled at Hudson, Ill., where he continued his work on the railroad. In January, 1854, they moved to what is now Heyworth, Ill., and engaged in railroading until 1857, when he began farming; he rented of James McWhorter for a year, and next rented of Mrs. Joseph Wakefield for five years. When married, they had but $200; they now own a farm of 279 acres; Mr. Ross has worked by the month at $4. In 1862, they settled on their present farm, which was then a raw prairie, but now, by their energy and labor, has been transformed into one of the most beautiful farms in Funk's Grove Township. He has held offices connected with the schools, and has been Supervisor of Funk's Grove Township.

JOHN STUBBLEFIELD, importer; P. O. Shirley. Of the business industries of Bloomington, the firm of Geo. W. Stubblefield & Co., importers of Percheron Norman horses, forms a conspicuous part; the members of the firm are Geo. W. Stubblefield and his father, John Stubblefield, who is one among the early settlers of McLean Co., having been a resident of the county since 1824, he being at that time 4 years old, coming to this county, with his people, from Fayette Co., Ohio, and settling in what is now Funk's Grove Township, where he has since remained and where most of his property is located. G. W. is a native of McLean Co.; he engaged in the importation of the Norman horses in 1874; since then they have become quite extensive importers; their barns are located on Madison street, south of Wait's Hotel, where can always be found some of the finest imported horses in the State; they have, altogether, about eighty head of fine imported and graded stock; their stock-farm, of four hundred and forty is located near Shirley, though they have, in all, about nineteen hundred acres. The direct management of the business comes under the supervision of G: W., his father spending the principal part of his time on the farm; by their close attention to business, square and honorable dealing, they have established a reputation as importers that is largely conducive to their

acres,

success.

A. STUBBLEFIELD, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Shirley: was born Nov. 27, 1815. in Ohio; he remained there until 1824, when he came with his father, by ox-team, as was customary in those days, to what was then Fayette Co., Ill.-afterward Tazewell Co.-and is now McLean Co., and settled on a farm-remaining there, working for his father until Feb. 23, 1840, when he was married to Eliza Pearson, of Indiana, and began farming for himself, on his father's farm, remaining four years; he then bought and settled on the present farm of 240 acres, which, by his improvement, has become a beautiful home. His first wife died Sept. 11, 1851, by whom he had five children-M. H., T. T. (both of whom were in the civil war), J. P., R. W. and Sarah C. He took, for his second wife, Allie Wilson, of Perry Co., Ohio, by whom he had six children-Harriet, Asa, William J., La Fayette, Charlotte and Mary A. Mrs. Stubblefield died April 18, 1869. He was again married Jan. 24, 1870-his third wife being Mary A. Campbell, who had five children before her marriage to Mr. Stubblefield-Eliza, Jane, David (was in the war), Mary B. and William W. Mr. Stubblefield has held offices connected with the schools, and has been Highway Commissioner.

JOHN STUBBLEFIELD, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Shirley; was born June 4, 1820, in Fayette Co., Ohio, and remained there until 1824, when he came to what was then Fayette Co., Ill., and, in 1831, McLean Co., and engaged in farming for his father until 22 years old, at which time, Dec. 1, 1842, he was married to Elizannah Houser, and began working on his father's farm, settling in a small log cabin, owned by Isaac Funk; in 1845, he began making a home for himself, buying 40 acres of Government land, at $1.25 per acre; he has added to this, until now he has a fine homestead of 440 acres; he has, in all, 1,900 acres, earned principally by their own exertions. He makes cattle and horses a specialty, and is in partnership with his son, P. M. Stubblefield, dealing in Norman horses; he has held offices connected with the schools, as Treasurer twenty-five years; Supervisor six years, and Director of schools six years; he is engaged, to some extent, in raising bees; they have nine children-Sarah E., David R., G. W., P. M., Mary F., Henry B., Simon P., Eddy, Lincoln (deceased) and John W.

P. M. STUBBLEFIELD, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. McLean; was born Oct. 25, 1852, in Funk's Grove, on his father's farm; he remained there, working for his father until Feb. 27, 1879, when he was married to Miss Mattie Willerton, who was born March 24, 1853, in London, England, and came to New York in 1854, where she remained fourteen years, and moved from there to Bloomington, Ill., remaining some four years, thence to a farm north of Danvers, until

her marriage. Immediately after marriage, they settled on the present farm of 160 acres, given them by his father, Mr. John Stubblefield. This is one of the most beautiful farms in McLean Co., and is well watered by a beautiful spring, which affords water during the most continued drouths. In 1874, he made a trip to Europe in company with G. W. and Robert Stubblefield for the purpose of buying Norman horses. He returned in May of the same year, with several fine horses, and still makes this stock a specialty.

WILLIAM W. SMITH, farmer; P. O. Heyworth; was born Nov. 16, 1823, in Washington Co., Penn., remained there until about 3 years old, then he moved to Crawford Co., Ohio, and settled on a farm in the woods, which seemed very lonely, there being but two neighbors within seven miles. In 1848, he moved to Ashland Co., Ohio, and settled on a farm; was there engaged in farming for twenty-one years, during which time (in 1845) he was married. In 1868, he moved, with his family, to the Far West, and made a home in McLean Co., Ill., settling on the present farm of 240 acres. He has worked by the day at 50 cents, chopping and splitting rails, and by the month at $10, which receipts were managed with frugality. He has held offices connected with the schools as Director nine years, School Trustee two terms, and is now on the third term in Funk's Grove Township. He was Pathmaster ten years in Ohio, and three years in Illinois; is at present Superintendent of the Sabbath school at the Jones Schoolhouse. Has five children -Robert, Yeoman, Oliver, Teresa and Austin.

In

JOHN VANORDSTRAND, farm and stock; P. O. Heyworth; was born June 11, 1830, in Washington Co., Penn., and remained there until 1849; was engaged in farming. He then came to McLean Co., Ill., and settled in Randolph Township, engaging in selling goods at Independence, now Heyworth; was in partnership with Isaac Vanordstrand until 1855. In 1851, he was married to Elizabeth Oliver, born in Ireland in 1828; she came to Illinois in 1849. 1855, he began farming, renting for one year; in 1860, he came to his present farm of 384 acres, which he bought in 1851, every particle of which they have earned by their own labor and management. When Mr. Vanordstrand came to Illinois, he had but $25; he began business by borrowing money, and by skillful contrivance has made himself a magnificent home. His farm was a raw prairie when he settled on it, but now is under fine improvement. He has held offices connected with schools sixteen years; Highway Commissioner five years, is now on sixth; was Collector one year, and Assessor one year. He makes a specialty of breeding fine cattle, hogs, sheep and horses; especially noteworthy is his Norman horse, which is one of the finest in the State. They have seven children-W. P. and I. S. (twins), Belle, John. Ella, George and Arthur.

TOWANDA TOWNSHIP.

GOTTLIEB ARNOLD, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 21; P. O. Bloomington. Methodist ; Republican. One of the old settlers of McLean Co.; born in Wurtemberg, Germany, May 30, 1831, where he worked at farming, ditching and piking until he emigrated to America, landing in New York in 1854; coming West, he worked upon a farm in Pennsylvania eighteen months, and came to McLean Co. in 1856; after working in the brick-yard one year, in Bloomington, then two years as farm laborer, he rented land, upon which he farmed five years, when he bought eighty acres of land upon Sec. 21, Towanda Township, upon which he then located and where he has since lived. When Mr. Arnold came to this country, he was in debt $100 for money borrowed to come to America; he paid the same from his first year's labor, and upon arriving in Bloomington, his capital consisted of 35 cents; he now owns 160 acres of land, with good farm buildings, which, with his stock, is valued at upward of $8,000, all of which he has made by his own hard labor and good business management His marriage with Katarina Bloom was celebrated in 1850; they have six children now living, having lost three by death; the living are William, Charles, Katarina, George, Mary and Jacob.

D. F. BIDDLE, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Towanda; one of the old settlers of McLean Co.; born in Fayette Co., Ohio, Nov. 3, 1836; he is a son of Noble Biddle, now living in Lexington, who emigrated from Ohio and located in McLean Co. in 1849. The subject of this sketch emigrated to this county in 1849, and remained with his father until he attained his majority; in the spring of 1858, he commenced farming, and, in March, 1862, removed upon his present place, where he has since lived; he owns 160 acres upon Sec. 1, and 120 acres upon Sec. 2, Towanda Township, all under a good state of cultivation, and upon which he has the best of farm buildings, the above property being accumulated by his own hard labor and correct business habits; he farms his 280 acres of land, and some rented land, the products of which he feeds to his stock, which consists mostly of cattle and hogs. He is now Justice of the Peace, which office he has held for three years. His marriage with Rebecca A. Lambert was celebrated Dec. 22, 1860; she was born in Fayette Co., Ohio, Oct. 24, 1836; they have six children now livingMelissa E., born Sept. 23, 1861; Edna M., Feb. 4, 1867; Noble M., Jan. 1, 1865; Elmer, May 30, 1869; John P., Feb. 23, 1871; Wilmer O., July 5, 1875. Mrs. Biddle is a daughter of John

and Rachel Lambert, who emigrated to McLean Co. in 1850, and are now living in Money Creek Township.

B. F. BALLARD, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 33; P. O. Bloomington. Baptist; Democrat. One of the old settlers of McLean Co.; born in Jessamine Co., Ky., April 30, 1828; he was a son of Henry Ballard, who was born in Virginia in 1792, and emigrated to Kentucky in 1806, and to McLean Co. in 1856, and made his home with his children until his decease, which occurred in 1871, at the advanced age of 79 years. The subject of this sketch lived with his parents until he attained his majority; the following six years, he was engaged in building fences, in Kentucky, and, in 1855, he came to Illinois and engaged in the wagon and pump business, in Bloomington, for four years, under the firm name of D. D. Haggard & Co.; he then purchased 120 acres of land in Old Town Township, improved the same six years, when he purchased his present place of 160 acres, in 1865. where he has since lived. His marriage with Sarah F. Hardesty was celebrated in December, 1850; she was born in Bourbon Co., Ky.; they have nine children now living-Henry F., David W., Asa H., Charles, Herman E., Ida B., Mary A., Benjamin F. and Lucy C.

JAMES H. BALLARD, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 34; P. O. Bloomington. Baptist; Democrat. One of the old settlers of McLean Co.; born in Garrard Co., Ky., Oct. 29, 1844; he was the oldest son of William L. Ballard, who was born in Kentucky, and emigrated to this county in 1856, and purchased Sec. 34, Towanda Township, and followed farming until his decease, which occurred in 1870. James H. Ballard lived with his father until the decease of the latter, since which time, with the exception of one year, he has followed farming upon the old place, where he has 160 acres of land, all under a good state of cultivation, with good farm buildings. His marriage with Almina Holcomb was celebrated in December, 1871; she was born in Ashtabula, Ohio; they have three children by this union-Mary G., Arthur C. and Walter R.

T. P. BARKALOW, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 8; P. O. Towanda; born in Montgomery Co., Ohio, Jan. 9, 1830; he was brought up to farm labor, and, at 21 years of age, commenced farming for himself, continuing the same in Ohio until 1864, when he disposed of his property in Ohio and emigrated to McLean Co., Ill., and purchased his present place of 160 acres upon Sec. 8, Towanda Township, where he has since lived. His marriage with Mary F. Lloyd was celebrated Feb. 7, 1855; she was born in Warren Co., Ohio, April 15, 1833; they were the parents of two children, of whom one died in infancy; the living, James A., was born Dec. 17, 1855; he is now living at home, and is engaged in the study of medicine with Dr. Girtin, of Towanda. Mr. Barkalow has taken a deep interest in the cause of religion, having, with his wife, been a member of the Presbyterian Church for the past twenty-five years.

CALVIN BARNES, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 31; P. O. Bloomington; one of the oldest settlers in McLean Co.; born in Herkimer Co., N. Y., April 13, 1805; at the age of 21, he commenced work for himself: after working upon a canal packet for one year, he then commenced farming for himself, which business he pursued in New York until the fall of 1853, when he came to this county and purchased Sec. 29, this township, and has since added by purchase until he now owns 990 acres of land, upon which he has three good sets of farm buildings, which, together with the large amount of stock which he owns, is valued at near $60,000, and all of which he has accumulated by his own labor and good business management. His marriage with Lucinda Keyser was celebrated Jan. 26, 1837; she was born in Herkimer Co., N. Y., May 16, 1816; they have four sons and two daughters by this union, viz., Elizabeth, Franklin, Alden, Monroe, Lucy and Calvin, Jr. When Mr. Barnes first located here, there were but two houses from his place to Bloomington.

FRANKLIN BARNES, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 7; P. O. Towanda; one of the old settlers of McLean Co.; was born in the State of New York Sept. 26, 1839; he is the oldest son of Calvin Barnes, whose biography appears in this work. Franklin Barnes was brought up to farm labor, obtaining a good common-school education. On the 24th of September, 1878, he was united in marriage with Nancy Duncan; she was born in Clark Co., Ky., and was a daughter of W. R. Duncan, who emigrated to this county from Kentucky in 1863, and located on Sec. 7, Towanda Township, where his decease occurred in the fall of 1876. Mr. Barnes is engaged in farming 135 acres of land, and also raising blooded horses.

JOSEPH P. BEDINGER, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 18; P. O. Normal; one of the old settlers of McLean Co.; born in Nicholas Co., Ky., July 6, 1841; in 1856, he emigrated to Illinois with his parents, and located in Towanda Township, before the organization of the township. He located upon his present place in 1858, at which time there were only two houses within a distance of seven miles; he has 200 acres upon his home farm, which he has brought from its wild prairie condition to its present high state of cultivation, by his own hard labor. His marriage with Paulina Dimmitt was celebrated Dec. 16, 1864; she was born in McLean Co., Ill., June 17, 1842; they have three children now living, having lost four by death; the living are George, Rosa and Alice. Mrs. Bedinger was a daughter of William Dimmitt, one of the early pioneers of McLean Co.

JOHN E. CAMERON, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 23; P. (). Towanda; born in Jefferson Co., Va., Dec. 6, 1844. He was raised tɔ farm labor in Virginia until 1857, when he emigrated

with his parents to Missouri, and followed farming in Missouri until 1864, when he came to Woodford Co., and engaged in farming until 1867. He disposed of his property in Woodford Co. and removed to Texas, arriving in Jefferson, Texas, Jan. 1, 1868. He then went overland to Collins Co., 150 miles, horseback, where he remained eight months, then returned to McLean Co., and followed farming until 1875. He then went back to Texas with his family, and engaged in freighting and teaming until the fall of 1878, at which date he returned to McLean Co., and located upon Sec. 23, Towanda Township, where he is engaged in farming 300 acres. His marriage with Alice Jones was celebrated July 4, 1870; she was born in McLean Co., Ill., May 8, 1851; she was a daughter of Abram R. Jones, one of the early pioneers of McLean Co. He emigrated from Clark Co., Ohio, and entered land with land warrants, and purchased, until he had accumulated some 1,700 acres in Towanda, and afterward owned some 4,000 acres in Cropsey Township, and, at the date of his death, he owned 740 acres in Towanda Township, and 240 acres in Cropsey Township. He died April 4, 1878. The children of J. E. and Alice (Jones) Cameron were five in number, of whom three are now living, viz.: Minnie L., born Feb. 19, 1874; Hattie M., April 8, 1876, and Maud, May 2, 1879. Mr. Jones has probably broken more prairie than any other man in Illinois, having broken as high as 30,000 acres, and has cultivated. and improved more land than any other man in McLean Co.

T. J. DONAHUE, farmer, Sec. 36; P. O. Holder; born in County Galway, Ireland, Nov. 10, 1829. At 18 years of age, he emigrated to America, landing in New York in June, 1847. Coming directly West, he followed farming in La Salle Co. five years. In 1853, he commenced the carpenter's trade in Bloomington, continuing the same until 1859, at which date he went to Colorado and followed mining three years. In 1862, he purchased an interest in a flouring-mill in New Mexico, which he run five years, and, in 1867, he came to McLean Co., Ill., and purchased his present place of 240 acres upon Sec. 36, Towanda Township. He is, aside from farming, engaged in raising and feeding stock, feeding yearly from 100 to 150 hogs, 40 to 50 head of cattle, feeding the productions of 100 to 150 acres of corn, besides some 4,000 bushels purchased yearly. His marriage with Annie Garretson was celebrated July 9, 1867; she was born in Indiana, and enigrated with her parents to Bloomington when 1 year of age.

JOHN T. DIDLAKE, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 5; P. O. Towanda; Christian; Democrat; one of the oldest settlers of McLean Co.; born in Clark Co., Ky., Oct. 29, 1833; at 18 years of age, he emigrated with his father to Illinois, and located in Bloomington in October, 1851; he then engaged in buying and shipping grain with his father, under the firm name of Didlake & Son, until 1868, when he erected an elevator at Stanford, which was consumed by fire the following year, and by which he suffered a loss of upward of $7,000; in 1868, he purchased his present place of 140 acres, and, in 1870, located upon the same, where he has since followed farming and stock-raising. He has had his full share of offices, having filled the offices of Supervisor, School Trustee and Town Collector in Towanda Township, and has been the Secretary of the McLean County Agricultural Society for a period of nearly twenty years. In 1856, he was united in marriage in Detroit, Mich., to Priscilla Parshall; she was raised in Detroit; they have three sons and three daughters, viz., William P., Mildred, Charles D., Julia B., Mary P., and John W, all of whom are now living at home with the exception of Mildred, who is attending the University at Normal.

T. J. FORD, farmer and stock-raiser; P. (). Towanda; born in Boston, Mass., upon the 6th of January, 1841, where he attended the public school until 12 years of age, when he emigrated with his father to Wisconsin and located in Milwaukee Co., where he was raised to farm labor until 21 years of age; when, upon Aug. 18, 1862, he enlisted as private in Co. H, 24th Wisconsin Vol. Infantry, and went forward to battle for the Union he was forwarded to the army of the Cumberland under Gen. Rosecrans, and was engaged in the battle of Prairieville, Oct. 8, 1862; Stone River, Dec. 31, 1862; Chickamauga, Sept. 19 and 20, 1863; Mission Ridge, Nov. 24 and 25, 1863: Rocky Face, May 9, 1864; Resaca, May 14, 1864; Calhoun, May 17, 1864; Adairsville, May 18, 1864; Spring Hill, Nov. 29, 1864; Franklin, Nov. 30, 1864; Nashville, Dec. 15 and 16, 1864; at the battle of Prairieville, he was promoted to Sergeant for meritorious conduct; at the battle of Adairsville, he was wounded by a ball in the left breast, and which he yet carries in his breast, from the effects of which he is unable to perform much manual labor, especially that which causes much movement of the chest and muscles; he has been treated by physicians for the same for the last fourteen years; he laid in the hospital some six months, when he again joined his regiment at Chattanooga, and remained with the regiment until he received his discharge, June 22, 1865, having served in the Union army nearly three years; his father and brother also served in the Union army three years; after receiving his discharge, he returned to Wisconsin and engaged in farming until 1867, when he came to McLean Co., and located upon his present place, where he has since lived. He owns eighty acres upon his home place, all under a high state of cultivation; all of which he has made by his correct business habits. His marriage with Mary Finley was celebrated Aug. 8, 1868; they have no children. Mr. Ford has taken a deep interest in politics, being a strong Republican, and has always supported the above party since its organization; he has taken an interest to such an extent that he was called upon to make speeches for the support of the Republican party, of which favorable mention was made by the Bloomington papers; to use his own expression, he votes as he fought.