MILSTEAD, JAMES W., who, in his work of general farming and raising of hogs, is giving practical demonstration of how efficient and prosperous an agriculturalist of Cass County can be, was born in this county, March 18, 1858, a son of William E. and Ellen (Struble) Milstead, natives of Kentucky, and Morgan County, Ill., respectively. The grandparents were Edward and Mary N. (Hinchee) Milstead, natives of Virginia; and Andrew and Sarah (Stout) Struble, natives of Ohio and New Jersey. The paternal grandfather, a shoemaker by trade, died in 1871, and the grandmother died in 1870.

William E. Milstead came to Morgan County, Ill., in 1849, and soon thereafter located in Cass County. In 1858 he became a resident of Oregon Precinct, and there lived until his death, September 6, 1872. His widow, who was born February 23, 1838, now lives at Petersburg, Ill. They had the following children: Sarah L., who is Mrs. D. M. Wyatt, widow, of Ashland, Ill.; James W.; Philemon, who is of Lucas County, Kas.; Jacob D., who is of Colorado; Alfred S., who is deceased; George E., who lives in township 18, range 9, Richmond Precinct; Laura, who died young; Florence, who lives with her mother; Ella, who died an infant; and Martha, who also lives with her mother.

James W. Milstead attended the Mount Pleasant Ridge district school and resided with his parents until his marriage, when he rented land in Richmond Precinct for two years. In 1890 he bought 185 acres in that same precinct, to which he has added eighty acres. At the time he became its owner, the land was but partly improved, but he has made many improvements and purchased farm appliances, and now carries on general farming and raises cattle and hogs, being very successful in his work.

On November 15, 1888, Mr. Milstead married Elizabeth Wing, born in Cass County, May 6, 1862, near Chandlerville, a daughter of Egbert and Eliza (Davis) Wing, and their children are: Arthur, who is of Chandlerville; Roscoe, who is of Richmond Precinct; and Leo, Charles, Effie and James, who are at home. In politics he is a Democrat, while fraternally he belongs to the Chandlerville Lodge, I.O.O.F., and the Newmanville Lodge, M.W.A.