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 AMES McCRORY, one of the pioneers of
Illinois, is a well-known and substantial
farmer, residing in Lafayette Township on
section 2, town 12, range 8. He was born
Nov. 16, 1814, in Bourbon County, Ky. His
father, James McCrory, Sr., was born in the North
of Ireland, whither his family had fled from Scotland to escape the persecutions which disturbed
that country during the latter part of the seventeenth century. He emigrated to the United
States when a young man, and settled in Kentucky,
where he engaged in farming, his marriage to
Mrs. Sarah Vance taking place there. Mrs. McCrory was a native of Virginia. Both parents
died before reaching the prime of life, leaving a
family of three children, whose names are, Jane,
Elizabeth, and James, our subject. Jane became
the wife of James Gray, and Elizabeth the wife of
William Kendall. The two daughters are now
deceased, leaving James the sole survivor of the
family. James McCrory was a young lad when he had the misfortune to lose both of his parents, and resided with his brother-in-law until he was twenty-one years of age. At that time, while on a visit to some friends in Missouri, he engaged as clerk in a store at Palmyra, retaining the position several months. He then returned to Kentucky and opened a dry-goods house, but the panic of 1837 compelled him to leave Kentucky, and consequently he removed with his goods to Charleston, this county, where he closed out his stock. In 1839 he returned to Kentucky, and for a short time he resumed the mercantile business in Harrison County, and subsequently engaged in various employments there, until the spring of 1850. He then returned to Coles County, and was engaged in the mercantile business three years in Charleston. In 1853 he was elected County Clerk, and retained the position eight years, having been elected the second time. At the expiration of this time he resumed the mercantile business, and in 1867 sold his stock and purchased the farm upon which he now resides, which contains 160 acres of laud, all brought to a fine state of cultivation. After passing through many business vicissitudes he is now spending the evening of life in comparative tranquility and retirement. His marriage to Miss Mary E. Chambers took place in Cynthiana, Harrison Co., Ky., March 20, 1838. She is the daughter of James Chambers, and was born in Harrison County, Ky. Mr. and Mrs. McCrory had a family of nine children, as follows: William E., Henry M., Frank, Joe, Charles D., Sarah E., Elizabeth; one daughter died in childhood, and one son, James T., died at the age of nineteen. Sarah became the wife of Luke F. Wilson, and Elizabeth the wife of J. W. Neal, M. D. Mr. McCrory was faithful in the discharge of his public duties while holding office, and is a highly esteemed citizen of the township. Although not actively interested in politics, he votes with the Democratic party. |
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