Pgs 412-686 - Illinois Ancestors

OF VALLEY TOWNSHIP. 665
Simmerman passecl all his earlier years on his grandfather's (Peter
Sheets) lands or attending school in the district. He mas but six
months olcl when his motller died. He residecl mith grandfather
Sheets tn-enty-one years, and in 1868 movecl to his fann of ninety acres
on section 18, Valley, with his young wife-Miss Susan M., daughter of
Jonathan and Loraney (Fowler) Luce, of Indiana,, to whom he hacl
been married only a short 'time. To them six children mere born:
l\iIary L., Isailora M., Ada J., Daisy B. Ernest M., and Roy, all laesiding
her& His wife was born near Indiannpolis in 184s. In 1852 inoved
wit11 her parents to Folton county, and in 1855 came to Essex, reinaining
wit 11 Jefferson Triclcle's family until her marriage. Nr. Simmerinan
has now 270 acres of prime land, ancl since 1867 has taken all the
l'art's credited to lliin in history.
Eilwin to hare, son of John P. ancl Nancy (Ii~~f~~lan) Snare, mas born
in Penn tolvnship, Ill., April 24, 1849. Iris fasther was a native of
Pennsylvania of Ueri~lan descent. Edwin received a practical education
on the farm ancl in the clistrict schools. In 1872 he married Miss Nellie
J., daughter of Harlo\v and Harriet (Stouffer) Brown, of Penn township,
and soon after purchased a farin there, on mhich he resided until
1879, when he sold his interests there, and removing to Valley, purchasecl
his present brm. Of three children born to Mr. and Mrs.
Snare, only one - an infant, is living. This little one with an aclopted
daughter constitute their family. He is a supporter of the M. P.
church, in political life a Republican, and in everyday affairs a liberal
he1 per of every enterprise which gives promise of public benefits.
( vide also sketcl~ Byown c6nd 8nnre family, perm township.)
C'aptain Jo7m Speers, son of Henry and Esther (McCreary) Speers,
mas born in Washington co~~nty, Pa., January 13, 1822. His grandfather,
of German descent, mas a Baptist preacher of Pennsylvania,
and clied there in 1540. His motller ~vtls of Scotch-Irish ori$in. Of
her nine chilclren, three are now living : William, in California ; Plessy,
wife of E. Baker, of Springfielcl, Mo., uilcl John, of Valley township.
Samuel Speers, uncle of John, served in the Revolution, and was
~vounded - remaining a cripplecl victim of Britisll tyranny up to the
period of his death. Abraham, a brother of our subject, servecl in the
Mexican war. His father was a soldier of 1818, and mas present at
the capture of New Orleans by ;' Old IIickory." IIe avenged there
the rno~~nds i~lflictecl on his older brother by the British during the
Revolution. Captain Gpeers passed his early years on the farm or
attent1 ing school. At the age of fifteen he entered a lnaclline shop,
re11:nlained five years there, ancl then tool< the position of engjneer on a,
western river steamboat. For thirteen years 11c nTns in th~service,
being captain of the vessel for tv70 gears. Early in IS55 he came to Valley
torvnship, purchased a, quarter section to which he has since added
360 acres together* with presenting eiglrllty acres to one son, 120 acres
to another and the cash equivalent of eiglltr acres to a. third son. He
also owns a section in Washington county, Kan., half of ~vhicll is fenced
ancl stocked. In 1844 he ~narried Miss Sarah Cart~vrigl~t, a native of
England, who came to the United States mith her aunt, Nrs. Sarah,
wife of George Price, a machinist, who settled at Bromnsville, Pa.,