JOHN H. DEAL, miller, Sweetwater; was born in the city of Baltimore, Md., March 20, 1826; is a son of John and Sarah (Wilhelm) Deal; the father was a native of Maryland, and a butcher by trade; he departed this life Dec. 6, 1826; the mother remained in Maryland until 1839, when she and our subject came to Menard Co., where they have since resided; John H. received such an education, as the schools of that early day afforded; in 1852, he and Hugh D. Hughes built the Sweetwater Mill; it cost, at the time of building, about $2,500; it has been constantly run, with the exception of one year, since its building; it is now the property of J.H. Deal and J.L. Hughes - son of Hugh D. Hughes; it was one of the first steam-mills in Menard Co., and has ground more than one million bushels of grain since it was built. Mr. Deal is the present miller, and to his exertions the mill owes its success and popularity. He was united in marriage with Jane Eldridge in 1848; she was born in England Sept. 8, 1828; for this union there were six children, two of whom are now living; she died Sept. 4, 1861. Mr. Deal was again married Aug. 23, 1866, to Mary E. Enslow; they have four children by this union. Mr. Deal is a Republican in politics.