JOHN F. SUNDERLAND. The present efficient sheriff of Macoupin county, was born in Jersey county, Illinois, May 25th, 1840. The Sunderland family is of English ancestry, and emigrated from England to America at a period anterior to the revolution. Samuel, the father of the present sketch, was a native of Trenton, New Jersey. He was a soldier of the war of 1812. He was a wheel and mill-wright by trade. He, however, during the last fifteen years resided in his native state, was toll-keeper on the bridge across the Delaware river, connecting New Jersey and Pennsylvania. In 1821 he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Hutchison, who was a native of Geneseo county, New York. In 1839 Mr. Sunderland came west and settled in Jersey county, Illinois, which was then a part of Greene county. He engaged in farming, which occupation he continued until his death, which event occurred May 23d, 1875. Nine children were born to Samuel and Elizabeth Sunderland, five of whom have survived the parents. The subject of our sketch spent his boyhood days at work upon the farm, and attended the common schools of his native place in the winter season. On the 9th of August, 1860, he was united in marriage with Miss Mary J. White, daughter of Robert H. and Christine White. Mr. White was a native of Edinburgh, Scotland, and his wife a native of the northern part of the same country. The emigrated to America in 1833, and settled in New York, and afterwards removed to New Jersey, and subsequently came to Illinois and settled in Jersey county, where the family resided. Six children have been born to John F. and Mary J. Sunderland, five boys and one girl; all are yet beneath the parental roof.

In 1861 he removed to and settled in Honey Point township, in Macoupin county, and engaged in farming, at which he continued industriously engaged until 1878, when he was elected sheriff of the county, and removed with his family to Carlinville, and entered upon the duties of his office.

Such, in short, is a brief outline of the history of Mr. Sunderland. In politics he is a democrat, and his first vote in that organization was registered for Stephen A. Douglas in 1860. He has been, from the casting of his first vote up to the present time, a true and consistent member of that political party. He has been more or less prominent and active in the local politics and affairs of his township, and has represented it in the supervisors' court for a number of years. He was nominated for sheriff during the time that he was supervisor. He received the unanimous support of his party in convention assembled, and at the ensuing election in November following, was elected by a handsome majority, and now fills the office with credit to himself and honor to all those who supported him. In his manners he is a genial gentleman. In the management of his office, and in the capacity of a public servant, he is methodical and exact, and in the discharge of his duties, is prompt and determined. In short he is an able officer, and under his management the county's interests will be in no danger, and the laws will be faithfully executed so far as he is responsible.