Pgs 412-686 - Illinois Ancestors

51 8 BIOGRAPHY AND REMINISCENCES
to Ohio at the age of sixteen years with his grandfather, and served in
the war, ancl soon after inarriecl Nancy Moss, of Pennsylvania, who
settled in Jackson county, Ohio, with her family. Henry and Nancy
Jones made that State their hoine until their death. Jarecl Jones
married BiIiss Catherine, (laughter of Michael and Hozanna (Wnlclron)
Sollars, in 1836. This ladv was born in Jackson county, Ohio, in ISIS,
where her parents, Virginians, hi~d settled* AfLer this marriage they
settlecl on a farm which they purchased. In 1838 the farm was sold
ancl the young people coming to this township, purchasecl their first
homeste~cl in the west, where they have since resided. While in Ohio
Mr. Jones joinecl a volunteer coinpany enlisted to protect the frontier
from Indians, and on coming here was ever reacly to become a lkleinber
of protective organizations against the white savages engaged in horsestealing
and clai111-jumping; but notwithstanding all his vigilance he
had to pav for his land three times to meet the demands of the olcl
claim sharks. Of the twelve children born to Mr. and Mrs. Jones, ten
are livinw. David, John, Nancy, Ann, I-Iozannah, William, Sylvester,
Michael %I., Sarah, Jan~es A., Christopher (deceased), Lydia J., Laura.
(deceased). The father of this large fainily was for years a Democrat,
but recently gives his support to the prohibitionist cause. His wife
ancl he are members of the Unitec~ Brethren church, opposed to secret
organizations, hut always ready to aicl any object of a beneficial ancl
l~rogressive character.
Abne~ li'enzs, son of Willia,m ancl Mary (Drumnmoncl) Kerns, mas
born in Ross countv, O., in 1824. His father was born December 25,
1800, of ~enns~lvania settlers in Ohio. About 1823 he married Miss
Druminond, a daughter of Benjamin and Anna (Kerns) Dru~nmoncl,
born in 1807. In 1855 this family came here, purchased a farm ant1
resided until the cleath of William, on September 13, 1813. Ilis widow
is still anlong the olcl settlers. Abner Kerns shared his l~arents7 labors
ancl fortunes until his twenty-eighth year when he nlarriecl Miss America,
daughter of Daniel Watts, born in 1828 of ICentucky settlers of.
Ohio. l'rior to this marriage Mr. Kerns often drove cattle across the
~nountains to Baltimore and New York cities ancl after me~rrit~ge
engaged in stoclr-growing, his wife superintending the farm. In 1871
they rnorecl on their farm of 160 acres, one mile south of Wyoming.
Of their. seven cilildren six are living: Mary J., Einmna, Frank A.,
Fred, Harris ant1 Hattie. Alice is deceasecl. Mr. and Mrs. Kerns
have always suppol*tecl the Methoclist church of which his awed mother
is a respected member. Himself and hoys are decidedly &epoblican.
His fidrin of 560 acres he has t~ansformed into a garden-spot, ancl there
erected R c~inmo(lious honse, the center of much that is 1)lensnti t and
instructive in that neigh horhoocl.
John L~fler, son of John ancl Frances (Wilkinson) Leffler, was born
in Stark county, Reptember (, 1850. His father was a native of Ohio,
where the Pennsylvania Lefflers settlecl at an early clay, came to Tllinois
in 1849 and here married Miss Wilkinson. Six weeks later, January
1, 1850, he died. His wiclo~v, daughter of Solomon and Elizabeth
Wilkinson, whose history is given in this chapter, still resides here.
John Leffler, jr., married in his twenty-ninth year, Miss Anna,