and worked for a man named Bartlett there until 1864, when he moved to the Bartlett, Sr., farm near town. In 1865 he left him and was variously engaged until May, 1867, when he enlisted in Company F, 13th United States infantry, and served three years at Ft. Ellis and Ft. Shaw, M. T. Subsequently he engaged in herding and farming in that territory for Chip Travis, returned to Illinois and for thirty months engaged in fruit-growing in Hancock county. He next was a farmer near Denver, Col., returned to Sonora, Ill., and on November 30, 1874, married Miss Emily Thompson, daughter of Harvey and Lois (Crosby) Thompson, of Osceola, Ill., who was born there, her parents being natives of Vermont and Massachusetts respectively, but both of old families in the latter State. For five years after this he engaged in fruit-growing, and then came to Osceola village, where he purchased the mercantile interests of A. F. Spencer and established his present. business. His children are: David, born October 13, 1875, and Rollin, September 25, 1880. In politics he is a Republican. Religiously he inclines toward the Baptists, but is not a member of any church. Officially he has served as school director and on the board of cemetery trustees. Though not a pioneer of this celebrated pioneer neighborhood, he claims many warm friends, and stands as high in the communal circle as he does in the commercial.

John F Reed, born at Reed's Grove, Will county, Ill., September 7, 1851, is the son of George W. and Mary (Straeder) Reed, both natives of Indiana, as related in the chapter on Osceola township. Mr. Reed passed his boyhood days in assisting his father in farm work, or attending the school of the district. At the age of nineteen years he attended the graded schools at Toulon and subsequently studied in the Bradford schools. Adopting the profession of teacher, he would preside over a school for one term, and the next attend school at the Wesleyan University, Bloomington. He also studied in the Illinois Industrial University, at Champaign. Since completing his education he has been engaged in teaching school, and is now in the thirteenth year of his professional work. On June 19, 1878, he married Miss Frances I. Searl, daughter of I. W. and Charlotte (Furness) Searl, natives of Pennsylvania. To them three children were born, namely: Mary E., Ralph L. 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 Methodist Episcopal Church, his wife is a member of the Baptist Church, and in these societies they exert their influence for good. (Vide, also, history of Osceola township.)

Simon B. Spencer, born at Peacham, Vt., December 27, 1821, is the son of Samuel, born October 26, 1777, and Betsy (Currier) Spencer, natives of Windham county, N. H., and Boxford, Mass., respectively; and grandson of Ebenezer and Mary (Robinson) Spencer, descended from one of the three Spencer brothers who came from England, and from the Robinsons, who settled in New Hampshire among its pioneers. Betsy Currier is the daughter of David and Elizabeth