SETH C. CRAMPTON, of section 9, Browning township, was born on the farm on which he now lives, January 28, 1864. His father was born in Hartford, Connecticut, in 1797, came to Illinois in 1820, settled on the old homestead about 1835, went to California in 1844, and engaged in mining for two years, being reasonably successful. He returned from California in 1846 and resumed farming in Browning township. He was married the third time in 1858, to Mrs. Elizabeth Mitchell, whose maiden name was Davis. The father died when Seth was bur eight years old. He attended the public schools of that district, and at the age of twenty-one entered a telegraph office at Baders, where he learned the business and became a practical operator. He continued at this business at various points on the Chicago, Burlington & Quincy railroad for five years, when failing health compelled him to make a change. He came back to the home farm, put in a crop, continued business in the telegraph office, but with the opening of the spring of 1892 he became a full-fledged farmer.

He was married July 7, 1886, in Rushville, to Miss Mary E. Frome, born in this township, October 8, 1863. Her parents were Abram and Nancy Frome; the former died suddenly of heart disease, and the mother married John Ebbert, and lives on an adjoining farm. They have two living children, Meade Horace and Orpha Dot. Mr. Crampton is a Democrat. He belongs to the Brushington Valley Relief Association, a beneficial order.

The Crampton family were among the very early settlers of Browning township, coming here when the country was a wilderness.