The Biographical record of Livingston and ... - University Library

368 THE BIOGRAPHICAL RECORD.When lie had recovered a measure ofhis usual health, Mr. Ryerson resumed agriculturallabors, and in 1865 came to Livingstoncounty. Here he bought eighty acresin -\mitv township, only thirty acres ofw liich property had been liroken and placedunder the plow. A small cabin served asa home for a period, but in time this wassupplanted by a large, pleasant house, whichwas built under the owner's supervision.He also built barns, sheds and fences, andplanted an orchard and fine shade trees.As he could afford it, he invested his surplusfunds in more land, and to-day is the ownerof four hundred and seventy acres. Mostof this is productive and valuable- land,yielding a generous return for the labor expendedupon it.The marriage of Mr. Ryerson and LizzieLarson, a native of Norway, took placein La Salle county in 1863. Ihe wife wasa child of, yorhaps, twelve years, when shecame to the United States, and, with herhusband, she has been a faithful member(if the Lutheran church since youth. Toher helpfulness and brave spirit during theyears of their struggle for a home and competence,Air. Ryerson attributes much ofhis success in life. Tw(_) of their childrendied in infancy, but nine survive. Louisis married and is a prosperous farmer in thisdistrict. Anna Belle is the wife of RasmusAarvig. of Pontiac. Theodore is the agentand telegraph operator for the Illinois CentralRailroad Company at Cullom, Illinois.The younger children who are at home arenamel as follows: Oliver, Adolph. Mildred.David, Clara and Mabel.Mr. Ryerson is especially desirous ofgiving his children good educations, knowingthat thereby they will be fitted for thebattle of life. He is deeply interested inthe maintenance of schools of a high standard,and for three terms has officiated as amember of the school board, doing all withinhis power to increase the efficiency of oureducational system. In political creed heis a true-blue Republican, and since castinghis first presidential ballot for Lincoln, in1S64, he has ardently supported the partyof his choice.ADAM F. MORRISON.Lixingston county attributes its wonderfulgrowth and tlourishing state to the fine,enterprising citizens classed among its agriculturists,and in Amity township the subjectof this article is one of the foremost.He is a native of Illinois, his birth havingtaken place in La Salle county. May 27,1858.His father. Adam Morrison, one of thehonored pioneers of the county mentioned,was born in Glasgow, Scotland, in 1827,and when he was in his eighteenth year hesailed for America, his future home. Heaccompanied his father, ^ames Morrison,who likewise was a native of the land of thethistle and heather, and their first locationin this country was at Fall River. Massachusetts.In 1844 they removed to thewest, and thenceforth were identified withthis prairie state. Adam Morrison, whofor the past four years has been living retiredat his home in Streator, was activelyengaged in farming in La Salle county formanv years. He made a success of thebusiness and accumulated considerable excellentland, about three hundred acres beingcomprised in two or three farms situatednear Streator. His wife. Fanny, a daughterof William Dickenson, was born in Man-