father was born in Scotland, in March, 1809 came to the United States in his youth, learned the stone-cutter's trade in Vermont, and there married Miss Mary J., daughter of James and Margaret Craig-- natives of Vermont -- in February, 1837. They came to Osceola Grove that year, and were engaged in agriculture on the old homestead until their removal to Kewanee, in 1877. Of their ten children, Helen L. is married, residing in Page county, Ia.; Mary L. married Mr. Bunton; Lucy C . married, residing at Kewanee, Ills.; Carlos B. married a resident of this township; James B. and an infant, deceased; Emily, unmarried, residing with her father at Kewanee; Horace E., married, residing on old homestead, and two younger children deceased. Thomas Lyle, while a supporter of all churches, is not a member of any religious society. In politics he is decidedly Republican.

Asa Bunton continued farming, after his marriage, until August 9, 1862, when he enlisted in Company A, One-hundred-and-twenty-fourth Illinois Volunteer Infantry, with which command he served honorably until August, 1865. Of his three children, George Bartlett, married, resides in this township; Mabel J. died June 7, 1886, and Fred. L. resides at home. In politics he was Republican, but not aggressive; in religion a member of the Congregational church of Kewanee, and in social matters a sound, honest citizen. He held the office of school director for years.

James Buswell, born at Peacham, Vt., in 1793, came to Illinois in 1833, brought his family in 1834, and in 1835 came to Elmira township, with ten friends, known as the "Peoria Party," where each entered a quarter section. Early in 1837 he came here with his family, bought a second quarter section from Governor Duncan, where he built a house in 1815, drawing the lumber himself from Chicago. He served as Justice of the Peace for many years, as related in other pages, had seen the Prairie turned into cultivated fields, and the untenanted wigwams of the Indians give place to pleasant, well ordered villages. One of his sons, Nicholas C. Buswell, of Princeton, was Lieutenant Colonel of the Ninety-third Illinois Infantry.

James Cinnamon, son of John and Sarah (McGinnis) Cinnamon, was born in Down county, Ireland, in March, 1826. His ancestors are said to have settled there during the invasion of England by "William the Conqueror," and today several representatives of the family may be found there. James left Ireland in 1847, and coming to Canada, settled at Kingston. Eighteen months later we find him at Chicago, and January 1, 1849, at Lacon, Ill., engaged as house carpenter. On May 8, 185l, he married Miss Flora A., daughter of Robert and Phoebe (Newton) Sharer, the father a native of New York and the mother of Luzerne county, Pa. Robert Sharer, son of Samuel and Elizabeth (Taylor) Sharer, was born April 13, 1803. Samuel was a native of Ireland and his wife of England. Of their children, Robert, William and James were born in York state, and Joseph, David, Samuel, Thomas, Elias and Sarah A. after their removal into Luzerne county, Pa. Robert Sharer married Phoebe Newton July 5, 1830, to whom five children, Mrs. Flora A. Cinnamon being the only one now living. He and family moved to Wyoming, this county, in 1835; es