History of Lee County, Illinois - Bushnell Historical Society

272 HISTORY OF LEE COUNTY
attention to the duties of public office. He spent four years in
the position of deputy sheriff and in 1868 was made deputy cir-
cuit clerk, which office he filled for twelve years. He was then
elected circuit clerk and remained the incumbent for twenty years.
He is now again deputy circuit clerk and thus his connection with
the position has covered about forty-five years. There is no one
in Lee county so familiar with the office and all that appertains
thereto. He has ever been prompt and systematic in the discharge
of his duties and a well trained mind keeps him in touch with the
work of the office so that he can refer to any point or fact needed
at a moment's notice.
On the 21st of March, 1867. Mr. Lewis was united in marriage
to Miss Marilla M. Williams, a daughter of Cyrus Williams, who
came to this city in 1839. He was a millwright by trade and as
one of the pioneers became closely connected with industrial inter-
ests here at a very early day.
Mr. Lewis holds membership with the Modem Woodmen of
America and his political support has always been given to the
republican party since age conferred upon him the right of
franchise. Over his public record there falls no shadow of wrong
or suspicion of evil. Abraham Lincoln once said : "You may fool
some of the people all of the time, all of the people some of the
time, but you cannot fool all of the people all of the time." This
statement finds verification nowhere as much as it does in public
office. An incompetent man may be called to public office, but his
inefficiency is soon demonstrated and when a man has again and
again been chosen for a position of public trust it is e\adent
that he is worthy of the place to which he is called. While Mr.
Lewis has now passed the psalmist's span of three score years and
ten, he is still active in public office and his entire record is one
which has gained for him well merited commendation and indorsement.
WTLLTAM S. FROST, Jr.
William S. Frost, Jr., is a native of Bi'adford township, a rep-
resentative of a prominent pioneer family of this locality and one
of the most progressive and successful farmers and stock-raisers
of T;ee county. For a number of years he has been closely and
influentially associated with agricnltural interests here and his