Mrs. Brain died at Wady Petra in July, 1886. She married Geo. Brain in 1854, six years after her emigration from the Isle of Man, and eight years preceding the death of her husband. To Mr. and Mrs. Chase four children were born, of whom Virginius H. and Victor P., are at home. In politics he is Republican, and in all local and county affairs liberal and enterprising.

Bernard Colgan, one of the most prominent farmers of Valley township, was born in Down county, Ireland, in 1836. He remained in his native land until twenty years of age , and then started to make a home in the new world, landing in New York. He came at once to Stark county, Ill., and began working as low as twelve dollars per month. After several years he rented land which he worked until 1865 when he purchased an eighty tract on section 16. In Jan., 1867, he married Miss Ann Slogan, who is also a native of Ireland. After their marriage they remained some seven years upon this place and then removed to a farm on section 2, which he had purchased. Here they have since resided, and built up their present beautiful home. Eight children have blessed their marriage, all of whom make their home with their parents. Mary, Francis, Edward, James, John, Bernard, Margaret, Rose. Thomas is numbered among the dead. Mr. Colgan is a member of the Catholic church, of which his family are all members. In politics he is decidedly Democratic. He has now 240 acres of choice farming land, and is well known as one of our best farmers.

John A. Colgan, born at Greencastle, Down county, Ireland, February 14, 1836, is the son of Edward and Sarah (Brennan) Colgan, and grandson of Patrick and Catherine (Fitzpatrick) Colgan, of Lisnacree, in that county, who were the children of Edward Colgan, of Aughioguhill, and Denis Fitzpatrick, of Ballymacdurphy, of Down county, the former a weaver, and the latter a farmer and blacksmith. The maternal grandparents of John A. were James and Rose (Lands) Brennan, of Ballamena, and on both sides the family history can be traced back to the Irish Brians and to the illustrious Colgan family, one of whom was the celebrated historian. To Patrick and his wife Catherine nine children were born, one of whom came to the United States. Edward Colgan was married in 1834; moved to Greencastle, where he died in 1848. His widow came to America in 1865, and now resides with her son John A. Her children are John A. Colgan, James, who was drowned at St. John's, Patrick, Mary, Kate, now Mrs. Wm. Gill, Peter, drowned near Liverpool, and Thomas, all survivors of the family residing in this township. John A. Colgan was taken by his paternal grandparents in 1837, and lived with them eighteen years. He then moved to Liverpool to learn the ship-carpenter's trade, but returned in a short time and remained at home until 1856, when he came to Illinois, residing near Brimfield for three years. Subsequently, he freighted between Kansas City and Ft. Leavenworth and Ft. Union, N.M., but after seven months, returned to Peoria county. In the spring of 1863 he purchased eighty acres in Valley. In February, 1867, he married Miss Sarah Colgan, a very distant relative, who shared his fortunes until death took her away in June 1882. On

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August, 16, 1886, he married Miss Emma Williams, of Valley. Of seven children born to the first marriage, Mary M., Sarah A., Patrick E., John, Rosa and Peter V. reside here; Katie died. Mr. Colgan has increased his acreage to 400, all excellent land, and well improved. Politically, he is independent, and as a citizen, ranks with the best in Stark county.

Thomas Henry Crone, son of Benjamin and Mary (McDonald) Crone, was born in Fayette county, Ohio, January 20, 1829. His grandfather, Henry Crone, went to Canada to learn the carpenter trade, from Pennsylvania, of which state he was a native like his wife, and during the year the family spent there, Benjamin was born. In 1812 Henry returned to the United States and was a solider in the Union service, even as his father was a soldier of the Revolution. Benjamin Crone married Nancy McDonald in 1828. Her parents were natives of New Jersey. They were the parents of seven children: Thomas H., Albert W., John, Henrietta, James F. (deceased), Wm. A. and Douglas W. Thomas H. learned the carpenter's trade at an early day, and at the age of twenty years married Miss Eliza J., daughter of Ananias and Elizabeth Allen, a native of Madison county, Ohio. Six years later this lady died, leaving two children: William, now of Nodaway county, Mo., and Ammia E., now of Crawford county, Iowa. After the death of his wife he came to Stark county, Ill., worked at his trade until 1854, when he settled on his present farm, and in 1856 revisited Ohio, where he married Miss Catherine, daughter of Dr. And Ann (McClean) Robinson. They are the parents of seven children: John B., married, May, married, both of Crawford county, Iowa; James F., of Valley township, married Henry L., of Essex township, married; Rosella, married, residing here; Thomas S. and Nancy A. with parents. Like both his grandfathers, Thomas H. also was in the Union service, having enlisted in the Seventh Illinois Volunteer M. Infantry in February, 1865, and served until the close of the war. For thirty years he has filled the office of school director, is a member of the Central Agricultural Society, a supporter of the Methodist church, and in political life, a Republican.

William Dawson, born in Ross county, Ohio, in 1809, moved with his parents to Hawkins county, Ohio, where he passed his youth and received his education. About 1831 he married Miss Amelia Dorman, with whom he was a playmate from childhood. For nine years after this marriage they made their home in Hocking county, engaged on their farm, and there four children were born to them. In 1839-40 the family moved to Henry county, Ill., and two years later settled in Stark county, where Mr. Dawson had purchased lands. Here nine children were born to them, five of whom are living, and two, John L. and Minerva, residents of this county. The father of this large family, a pioneer of Henry, a pioneer of Valley and an old settler of Stark county, was called away by death September 10, 1885. Forty days prior to this event he fell, receiving such injuries as would cause the death of a much younger man. Mrs. William Dawson was born in Ross county, Ohio, January 1, 1805, but in her youth accompanied her parents to Hocking county, Ohio, where she was also educated and

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