married, January 7, 1858, to Isaiah Shay, the ceremony being performed in Tazewell County, Ill. Their five children were named, respectively: Kit tie, Ira, Mary, Rachael and Iva. Kittie died near Belle Plaine in 1887. All are married and have familles, with the exception of Ira who makes his home in Palestine Township. Mr. and Mrs. Cornwell belong to the Christian Church, attending services in Belle Plaine, and in which our subject serves as a Deacon. In Illinois he was an Elder. He has always been intercsted in educational matters, believing in giving to the young all the advantages, fitting them to become useful and intelligent members of society. He has served as Treasurer most of the time since coming to Palestine Township. In DeWitt County, Ill., he represented Texas Township in the County Board of Supervisors a number of years. He also in Illinois identified himself with the Independent Order of Odd Fellows, and he is a charter member of Belle Plaine Lodge, No. 198, and the Encampment at Belle Plaine. The paternal grandfather of our subject was Payton Cornwell, a native of Virginia, in which State his father located upon coming to America from England. On the maternal side his grandfather, Isaac Grant, was of Scotch ancestry and died in Virginia. SAAC VANCUREN. The subject of this notice holds a prominent position in the agricultural community of Palestine Township, and is successfully cultivating two hundred and forty acres of good land, pleasantly located on section 8. As a farmer, he is thorough and skillful, and as a member of the community, is held in high respect. By birth, he is an Ohio man, a native of Belmont County, and was born October 29, 1839. When a mere boy, his parents, Cornelius and Catherine (Hagen) Vancuren, changed their residence from Belmont to Hocking County, where they spent the remainder of their lives. The mother first passed away, being then sixty years old. Cornelius. Vancuren lived to the advanced age of eighty years. Both were church members, worthy and conscientious people who lived at peace with their neighbors and enjoyed the respect of all who knew them. The father, politically, was a Democrat, and had served as a soldier in the war of 1812. Mr. Vancuren was reared to man's estate in Hocking County, Ohio, and when ready to establish domestic ties, was wedded, in March, 1849, to Miss Eliza A., daughter of Solomon and Mary A. (Flenner) Yantes. This lady was born in Pickaway County, Ohio, but her parents later removed to Hocking County, where they spent the closing years of their lives, dying in the faith of the Lutheran Church. The paternal grandfather, Henry Yantes, was born, it is supposed, in Germany. Both he and his wife, Catherine, died in Pickaway County, Ohio. On the mother's side, Grandfather George Flenner, with his wife, Elizabeth, died in Sandusky County, Ohio. Mr. and Mrs. Vancuren lived on a farm in Hocking County, Ohio. until the spring of 1865. then removed to Shelby County. Ill., locating there alsó upon a farm, and remaining three years, when they removed to Macon County, where they remained until February, 1877. Their next removal was to this county. Mr. Vancuren at once purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land, which is now included in his present farm. Later he added to his landed possessions, until he has now two hundred and forty acres, all in productive condition and devoted to general agriculture. The family first occupied a small house, and beyond a few acres of ground having been plowed, this was the only improvement upon the place. The nearest market was at Wichita, to which place the farmers of this region conveyed their produce overland with teams. Mr. Vancuren labored industriously in the construction of his homestead, and its present condition indicates to what good purpose he employed his time. Besides the cultivation of the soil, and the erection of buildings, he planted a grove of forest trees and numbers of apple trees, | besides the smaller fruits. The family enjoy all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life. Seven children came to bless the union of Mr. and Mrs. Vancuren, all of whom are still spared to them. The eldest born, a daughter. Catherine, is the wife of Anthony Hahn, and they live in this county; Mary J. is the wife of James L. Vaughan, of Winfield: Elizabeth, Mrs. Benjamin Aurbert, lives in Dalton, Ill.; Rebecca J. is the wife of Henry Graban of Washington; John and William remain at home with their parents; Harriet A. is the wife of William Daily, and they live in Winfield. Mr. and Mrs. Vancuren are connected with the Christian Church at Belle Plaine, and occupy a good position in their community. The paternal grandfather of Mr. Vancuren was a Tory during Revolutionary times, and after the war was over, settled in New York State, where it is supposed he spent his last days. On his mother's side, Grandfather David Hagen, it is supposed, was born in Ireland. He lived in Pennsylvania many years, and died there. On another page of this volume may be found a view of Mr. Vancuren's residence. W ILLIAM ALFRED DARBY. Here and there we find a man of advanced thought, ahead of his time, keeping himself well posted upon the march of events, and taking a warm interest in the various enterprises calculated to benefit the world in general. Mr. Darby is one of the most public spirited men of Belle Plaine Township, and is a farmer by occupation, operating one hundred and sixty acres of well-developed land on section 2. He came to this county in the spring of 1871, from Independence, this State, and during his eighteen years residence among the people of this community, has fully established himself in their confidence and esteem. Mr. Darby was born in West Virginia, March 18, 1842, and when a child, was taken by his parents to Richland County, Ohio. His boyhood and youth were spent amid the quiet pursuits of farm. life, and he acquired his education in the common school. The family left the Buckeye State about. 1860, removing to Logan County, Ill., and later crossing the Mississippi, took up their abode in Indepen lence, this State. William A. remained there one winter, then coming to this county, pre empted one hundred and sixty acres of land—that which constitutes his present farm-and where he has since resided. This was then a tract of wild land, without any improvements, and it has taken no small amount of labor and capital to bring it to its present condition. The results of perseverance and industry have been illustrated in a marked degree in the labors of Mr. Darby, who is now in possession of one of the most desirable homes in this part of the county. Mr. Darby came to this section an unmarried man, but in due time formed the acquaintance of Miss Angeline Lawless, to whom he was wedded in Belle Plaine Township. April 25, 1875. Mrs. Darby was born in Russell County, Ky., April 5th, 1855, and is the daughter of James and Nancy (Cook) Lawless, who are now living in Harmon Township. The young people began the journey of life together at their own home, and toiled mutually in gathering around themselves the conveniences and comforts of modern life. Mr. Darby is a reader, and keeps himself posted upon political events, giving his cordial support to the Republican party. The father of our subject was John O. Darby, who married Miss Sarah Neal; they were natives of Virginia and Pennsylvania respectively. They became the parents of eleven children, and spent their last days in Richland County, Ohio. Among other lithographic views of well-developed farms in Sumner County, we present that of Mr. Darby, with some of its improvements and principal buildings. fruits. Mr. North makes a specialty of stock-raising, principally Poland-China swine. He is amply worthy of a representation in this work as a thorough and skillful agriculturist and a useful mem ber of the community. A native of Wood County, Ohio, Mr. North was born February 5, 1838, and spent his early years learning the arts of agriculture. His parents, William and Matilda (Skinner) North, were natives respectively of Germantown, Pa., and Perry County, Ohio. Each emigrated with their parents at an early date to Wood County, Ohio. The paternal grandparents of our subject were Joseph and Catherine (North) North, and on his mother's side his grandparents were John and Catherine (Oakley) Shinner. They all took up their abode in the Buckeye State about 1836, among Indians and wild animals, the latter including bears, wild cats, wolves and other dangerous creatures. Each family put up a little log cabin and began the construction of a farm from the heavy timber at a time when the nearest settlement was forty miles away. To the above-mentioned settlement these pioneers had also to repair in order to get their milling done, traveling laboriously through the heavy timber where scarcely a trail sometimes was discernable. There was a little trading post at Perrysburg, about twelve miles distant, where dry goods could be procured. They took up a portion of canal land, paying to the Government $1.25 per acre, and improved their farms with the aid of rude implements. There their children were born and reared, and there all the grandparents died. The land which they thus reclaimed from the wilderness is now valued at over $100 per acre. The subject of this sketch upon reaching man's estate was married in his native county, July 4, 1860, to Miss Amelia M., daughter of Michael and Fanny (Payne) Moore. Six years later leaving the Buckeye State they came this side of the Mississippi, locating in Benton County, Iowa. Mr. North purchased land upon which he operated until the fall of 1871. His next removal was to this county and he pre-empted one hundred and sixty acres of land, a tract of wild prairie, which is now included in his present farm. In those days about a day's drive west there was found an abundance of buffalo, and other wild animals infested the country. Occasionally a buffalo would be seen in Palestine Township. Mr. North, with a company of his neighbors. frequently went hunting in the fall, killing buffalo for their winter's meat, upon which the early settlers lived almost entirely. Deer and antelopes were still numerous in this part of the country. Mr. North and his family, when first coming to this county, lived for a time in a small, frame house, 12x14 feet in dimensions. The nearest market was first at Newton and then at Wichita, where the settlers transported their grain and stock, following a trail across the open prairie. Religious services were held in private houses, until the Methodist built a church at Belle Plaine. Schools were conducted in vacant-claim shanties on the subscription plan. Four children were born to Mr. and Mrs. North, the eldest of whom, a daughter, Emma, is now the wife of C. B. McAllister, of Belle Plaine Township; Ossie died in 1879, when an interesting maiden of sixteen years; Alta and Daisy remain under the parental roof. Mr. and Mrs. North and their daughter, Emma, are members of the Preșbyterian Church. The family holds a good position in the community, and have an attractive home replete with all the comforts and conve niences of modern life. M AJ. GEORGE W. DOUGHTY, SR., Postmaster of Dalton, was appointed to his present office in 1885, and is the only man who has been its incumbent since its establishment. The following year, in February, 1886, he was appointed a Notary Public, and thus has sufficient business to keep him employed. He came to this point in 1881, and purchased twenty-five acres of land, upon which he proceeded to lay out a town, putting up first his own residence and a store building. The former was destroyed by fire on the morning of the 20th of November, entailing |