Pgs 412-686 - Illinois Ancestors

488 BIOGRAPHY AND REMINISCENCES
and worked for a man named Bartlett there until 1864, when he mo~d
to the Bartlett, Sr., farm near town. In 1865 he left him and mas
variously engaged until May, 1867, when he enlisted in Company I,
13th United States infantry, and served three years at Ft. Ellis and Ft.
Shaw, M. T. Subse uentli he engagecl in herding and farming in that
territory for Chip %raais, returned to Illinois and for thirty months
engaoed in fruit-growing in I-Iancock county. I3e next was a farmer
near%enver, Col., returned to Sonora, Ill., ancl on November 30, 187'4,
married ~ iss Ernfly Thompson, daughter of Harvey ancl Lois ( c~os~~)
Thompson, of Osceola, Ill., who mas born there, her parents being
natives of Vermont and Massacl~usetts respectively, but both of old
families in the latter State. For five years after this he engaged in
fruit-growing, a~id then came to Osoeola, village, ~vl~ere he 1111 rchasecl
the mercantile interests of A. F. Spencer ancl established llis presentbusiness.
His children are : David, born October 13,1875, ancl Rollin,
September 25, 1880. In politics he is a Republican. Iteligiously he
inclines toward the Baptists, but is not a member of any church. 0%-
cially he has served as school director and on the boarzrd of cemetery
trustees. Though not a pioneer of this celebratecl pioneer neighborhood,
he claims many warm friends, and stands as liigli in the coinmunal
circle as he does in the comnlercial.
John 2T &ed, born at Reed's Grove, Will county, Ill., September 7,
1851, is the son of George W. and Mary (Straeder) Reecl, both natives
of Indiana, as related in the chapter on Osoeola township. Mr. need
passed his boyhood days in assisting his father in farm ~vorl~,
attending
the school of the district. At the age of nineteen years he attended
the graded schools at Toulon ancl subsequently studied in tlie Era(1 lord
schools. Adopting the profession of teacher, he would preside over a
school for one term, ancl the next attend school at the Wesleyan University,
Bloomington. I-Ie ajlso studied in the Illinois Inclustrial University,
at Champaign. Since completing his education he has been
engaged in teaching school, and is now in the thirteenti1 year of his
professional work. On June 19,1878, he marriecl Miss Frances I. Searl,
daughter of I. W. and Charlotte (Furness) Searl, natives of I'ennsylvania.
To them three children were born, namely : Mary E., Ralph
I,. and George H. Reed. Mr. Reed has always 'been Republican in
politics, and, it is said, wields the pen for the good of his party, whenever
the thought of doing so occurs to him. He is an excellent teacher
and is now filling his fourth engagement in the schools of District No.
3 or Elmira village. While Mr. Reed is a, member of the &Ietll~otlist
Episcopal Church, his wife is a member of the Baptist Church, and in
these societies they exert their influence for good. ( Pie, atso, 7~isto~y
of Osceola townsl~+.)
Simon B. Spencer, born at Peacham, Vt., December 25, 1821, is the
son of Samuel, born October 26, 1777, and Betsy (Currier) Spencer,
natives of Windham county, N. II., and Boxford, Mass., respectively;
and grandson of Ebenezer ancl Mary (Robinson) Spencer, tlescended
from one of the three Spencer brothers who came from England, ancl
from the Robinsons, ~vbo settled in New Hampshire among its
pioneers. Betsy Currier is the claughter of David and Elizabeth