JACKSON, GEO. W. farmer and stock raiser, Sec. 26, P.O. Manchester. The father of the subject of this notice, Hiram Jackson, was a native of North Carolina, was born in 1804, and emigrated to Indiana, settling in Putnam County, and after many years of harassing ups and downs, was married in 1826, to Miss Nancy Malcolm, the children born to this marriage were: Samuel A., Mary A., Silas, George W., Nancy J., Diana, Phebe, Matilda, Hiram, William H. and Jehu. Samuel left his family in 1854, and went to St. Louis, since that time his life is a blank to his friends and relations; Mary died in 1840, Matilda and Hiram died of measles and whooping cough, in 1842; Jehu enlisted at Jacksonville, March 9, 1865, to serve in the 101st Regiment, Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and died of pneumonia at Camp Butler, this State, March 29, 1865; William died March 9, 1875; the father died Nov. 9, 1875, aged 71; the mother died Sept. 29, 1864, aged 67. About the year 1835, Mr. Jackson made the trip overland to Missouri Crossing, at Alton, here while in the act of boarding the flatboat, the cable rope broke, precipitating the team and wagon into the river, little George narrowly escaped drowning; having gained the shore, continued their journey, settling in Barry County, Missouri, entered some government land, built a log cabin, made some improvements, sold out, and moved to Illinois, crossing at St. Louis, Missouri, settling in St. Clair County; this was in 1838, lived there five years, pulled stakes and moved to Washington County, entered a claim on 160 acres of land, erected a neat frame dwelling, the first of the kind in the neighborhood; improved the whole tract, in 1849 sold out and moved to Texas, and there bought a farm of 900 acres of land, lived there but two years, and again cast his fortunes with the people if Illinois, settling in Scott County, and there purchased a small farm of 40 acres; sold this, and agin moved to Macoupin County, and there farmed, until by the affliction of sore eyes, he had to give up work altogether, and lived afterward until his death, with his children. The gentleman at the head of this sketch was born Oct. 19, 1831, in Indiana, followed the changes of his father's life as recorded above; was married twice, his first marriage was Aug. 22, 1849, to Miss Matilda J. Davis, by Rev. Mr. Collins, in Washington County, the children to this union were: Martha Ellen, William R., James H., Silas J., Sarah A., Mary Alendar, and Nancy Isabelle; the wife and mother died Sept. 19, 1863; married again, Aug. 3, 1865, to Miss Sarah Jane Radford, at the home of Dr. Gillett, in the city of Jacksonville; have had seven children to this union: Charles W., Mary M., Clarasca, Odelia, George L., Samuel K., Minnie M., and Otis A.; Mr. Jackson was elected constable in 1860, served four years; Mr. and Mrs. Jackson are faithful members of the United Baptist Church.

JACKSON, THOMAS J. carpenter and builder, Sec. 33, P.O. Jacksonville, born in Indiana, Aug. 26, 1849, and removed to this county in 1874. Was married Dec. 25, 1870, to Mollie E., daughter of George and Anne Fagly, of Ohio, born Jan. 26, 1853. This union has been blessed by two children, Erastus H., born July 31, 1873, and died July 4, 1874, and Carl R., born Oct. 30, 1876.

JASPER, O.D., farmer and stock raiser, Sec. 10, P.O. Orleans. The genealogy of the Jasper family can be traced back many generations; going far back to a distant date, it can be stated that the family were of Scotch and Irish origin; Nicholas J., the grandfather of the subject of this sketch, was born in North Carolina; the date can not now be ascertained, but at the time of the Revolutionary War he was about twenty-five years of age; from the time of its commencement to its close he served as a soldier, sharing the hardships of soldier life at Valley Forge; while the war was still in progress he was married to Rebecca Haynes; by this marriage ten children; Thomas, the youngest child, was a soldier during the war of 1812, a noncommissioned officer; witnessed the fall of the great Indian chief Tecumseh; he married Elizabeth Dunham, who was a daughter of Obed Dunham, a native of Kentucky; this union was blessed with nine children; from Pulaski County, Kentucky, Mr. Jasper became a member of the State legislature, serving six years; Sergeant Jasper, of Revolutionary fame, was a distant relative; Thomas Jasper was a successful farmer; he and his wife both died in Kentucky; ten children of this union are now living: O.D., whose name heads this sketch, served through the Mexican War, enlisting in Co. A, Kentucky Infantry, from Pulaski; became a recruiting officer under Major Elliot; honorably discharged at the close of the war; in 1841, he came to Morgan County; in 1869, became permanently located; married Miss Sciota Davenport, daughter of Ephraim and Sallie, a school teacher in the usual log cabin of the period, where no floor was laid down, the scholars being seated on wooden seats, and the furniture of the plainest possible description; three children: John P., Sarah Ann, and C.C. Jasper.

JOHNSON, A.J., farmer, Sec. 20, P.O. Woodson, son of C.P. and Susan Johnson, who were among the early pioneers of Morgan County. Young J. was born on his father's farm in Morgan County, March 29, 1850; on the farm he grew to manhood, and received a liberal education; Jan. 30, 1869, he married Miss Margaret Schofield, a native of England, and daughter of Robert and Nancy, who emigrated to America in 1855. In 1871, Mr. Johnson taught the school at Youngblood for one term, and received the graded certificate of scholarship. The children who blessed this union are: Henry B., born Feb. 27, 1871; Chas. E., Jan. 5, 1873; Mary A., March 13, 1877, and Susan E., Jan. 22, 1878.

JOHNSON, ALEXANDER, farmer and stock raiser, Sec. 15, P.O. Meredosia; also director of Farmers Mutual fire and Lightning Ins. Co. of Jacksonville, member of the Cumberland Presbyterian church, of which he was ruling elder for a number of years; born in Barren Co., Ky., Oct. 24, 1819; married Feb. 24, 1842, to Ann Long, born in Knox Co., Tenn., June 23, 1824; have three children living: Thomas W., farmer and stock raiser, Jefferson County, Iowa, P.O. Fairfield; born March 27, 1843, married Oct. 27, 1867, to Mary E. Harris; enlisted Aug. 1862, in Co. B, 101st Illinois Infantry; has three children: Finas M., born Mach 26, 1845, married Thanksgiving day, 1875, to Mary E. Gatewood; have one child, Orange W., born June 19, 1877; he is an ordained minister, and pastor of two congregations in Story County, Iowa; resides at Nevada, the county seat; Elbert H., born Aug. 6, 1847, married Ann Leeper of Brown Co., Ill.; have four children: Clara, Amanda, John A., and Joseph H., all living in this township; William A., born Dec. 24, 1859, died July 14, 1873; was drowned while fishing on Indian Creek; Mr. Johnson was living at that time in Arenzville, Cass Co., Ill.; this boy was at the time of his death an universal favorite, because of his good character and disposition, and his death was mourned by all, being one of the saddest accidents on record; Mr. A. Johnson was engaged in farming all his life; at the age of ten years, his parents left Kentucky, and settled in this county; he commenced tending his father's farm in 1842, and had the care until 1847; then he purchased a farm, on which he broke up, having all kinds of ill luck; his best horse was gored to death by a bull, and all his cattle and horses died, leaving only one two-year-old colt; this he traded off for a work horse, and borrowed another from his parents, having sold all his land which he had only partly paid for; he started in the world with only a team left; sickness in the family added its share at the time; now he is a well-to-do farmer, and all his children married and doing well; he owns 202 acres of land, and is worth about $20,000; his father, Reuben Johnson, was born in Virginia, March 25, 1778; his wife was Martha Hall, born in Virginia, Feb. 1, 1787; they went to Christian Co., Kentucky, where they were married, then to Barren Co., Ky., and in November, 1829, settled in Morgan Co., Ill., one and one-half miles north of the present village of Concord; here he made the first entry of land made in T. 16 N, R. 12 West; and died there in February, 1856; his wife, after his death, went to Jefferson Co., Iowa, to live with her daughter, Sarah A. Smith, and one Sunday, while she, her daughter, and son-in-law, were driving to church, the team ran away, killing both Mrs. Johnson and her daughter; she died inside of three days, and her daughter in half an hour after the accident; Mr. Smith himself badly injured; this happened in June, 1870; Mrs. Alexander Johnson's father, Henry Long, born in Knox Co., Tenn., Sept. 24, 1794, died April 20, 1877; his wife, Nancy Gadberry, born in Kentucky, July 11, 1891; their children are: Mary, born July 11, 1822, married John F. Long, deceased; Ann, wife of A. Johnson; Jane, born Dec. 7, 1826, now Mrs. Washington Filey, P.O. Desire, Reno Co., Kansas; John D., born Jan. 10, 1828; killed by accidentally shooting himself, Aug. 1856; Emarine, born Mach 26, 1831, wife of Frank Raybon, living in this township; Christena, born Aug. 24, 1833, wife of L. J. Wallick, living at Arenzville, Cass Co., Ill.; Nancy, born Dec. 24, 1835, widow of John Raybon, living at Concord, Ill.; Melinda E., born Sept. 5, 1838, wife of Dr. W. B. Wriggler, of Arenzville, Cass Co., Ill.; Tabitha, born Nov. 2, 1842, wife of E. P. Naylor, living in this township.

JOHNSON, HENRY L., retired farmer and minister of the gospel, Sec. 11, P.O. Murrayville. The genealogy of this good old name points with pride to the descent of "Albion's" noblest families to rare Ben Jonson, in later years corrupted by the addition of the letter "h". The grandfather, Ben Johnson, settled here prior to the Revolution, and was a member of Washington's army, from the inception of the rebellion to its final close, and died at a great age; his ashes repose in the earth of Old Virginia. The father, Benjamin, was a native of August Co., Virginia; when he was 24 years old emigrated from the Old Dominion State and settled in Kentucky; was married in 1819 to Miss Mary Boyd, daughter of John H. Boyd; children born to this marriage in Virginia were: Henry L., C. Perry, and Andrew J. In 1830, to satisfy a long cherished desire to see the new State, then on the confines of civilization, made the journey overland, and in a large covered wagon, after a most harassing journey landed in Morgan Co. Oct. 2, 1830; the outfit of the little band of emigrants was very limited, the "deep snow" setting in soon after their landing, made their situation deplorable; settled in Buckhorn Prairie, and entered eighty acres of land at $1.25 per acre; built an addition to the log cabin; when his means became better purchased one hundred acres more land and improved it; soon after bought of W. Busbey eighty acres more. After settling in Illinois, three more children were born, viz.: Benjamin F., Jonas M., and John D. He was during life a minister of the gospel, and preached for the people of the United Baptist Church; died March 14, 1872, aged 77. The gentleman whose name appears at the head of this biography was born in Kentucky July 6, 1820, and followed the fortunes of his father's life, as above related, had a hard road to hoe in his early days. Studied Webster under the shadow of the log school house, this was only in "spells," but being a lover of knowledge, prosecuted his studies under the care of his parents, gained a liberal knowledge of the simple rudiments of an English education. Was married twice; first union was Oct. 14, 1840, to Miss Nancy H. Haney, by Squire Michner. An interesting episode occurred which we relate as told us; the good man of peace and law never tied a hymenial knot before, hence he was much agitated how to begin; the parties were pronounced of one flesh, after three exciting trials, much to the relief of the contracting parties; have had nine children: Zachariah T., James K.P., Benjamin F., John P., Henry J., Alden J., Mary J., Frances A., William E.; of these children the following have gone to their God: James K.P., Zach. T., Benj. F., and William E. Married again Aug. 25, 1868, to Mrs. Elizabeth A. Lawson, by Rev. William Johnson; they have had three children: Ida Belle, Laura E. and Clara Alma. Ida died in infancy. Mr. Johnson was ordained a minister of the United Baptist Church March 1, 1850, but from boyhood took an active part in the work of reclaiming his fellow creature from the broad road to endless ruin; now attends and preaches to four appointments, "Little Sandy" Baptist Church; Murrayville, Morgan Co.; Glasgow, Scott Co., and Wilmington, Greene Co.; is respected by all classes for his liberal principles.

JONES, FREDERIC L., mason, S. Main st., Sec. 29, P.O. Jacksonville, born in Milwaukee, Wis., Jan. 1, 1847, and came to this State in 1862, settling in Jacksonville. Enlisted in Co. C, Forty-first Wis. V. I. April 22, 1864, and served under Gen. Sherman until the close of the war. Married July 15, 1869, to Orilla, daughter of Dr. Lucien and Lura Higbee, of Whitehall, Greene Co., born Sept. 29, 1847. This union has been blessed by four children: Herbert L., born June 22, 1870, died Jan. 18, 1876; Edgar L., July 31, 1872; Nita, Dec. 18, 1874, and Freddie, Jan. 6, 1878. Mr. Jones has been employed at the State Insane Institute for the past sixteen years as mason, which position he still holds.

JONES, JAMES, farmer and stock raiser, Sec. 13, P.O. Waverly. The above named gentleman is the third child of Reuben and Nancy Jones, whose maiden name was Armstrong. Reuben Jones was a native of Tennessee, his wife was born in Kentucky. James, who heads this sketch, from the early days of childhood to the maturer years of manhood, has been a resident of this county and his occupation that of a farmer; on attending school the first teacher he remembers was James Trible who was among the first to settle in Morgan Co. In 1871 Mr. Jones was married to Miss Minerva S. Cox, of Kentucky. By this marriage three children: John R., born in 1872, Callie W., 1874, Ida May, 1877.

JONES, REUBEN, brick maker, Franklin, was born in Tennessee, in 1825; when three years old his parents moved to Illinois, settling in the vicinity of Franklin, which then rivaled Jacksonville, and there settled down to farm life; the first school attended by Mr. Jones was kept by John Johnson, in the vicinity of what is now called Muddy; in 1843, he married Miss Nancy Armstrong, of Kentucky; eleven children; nine are living; in 1873, Mrs. Jones passed off the stage of life; during the Autumn of 1876, married Mrs. Martha Ann Dennis, of Morgan County; four children; by first marriage Mrs. Jones had one child; by second marriage to Mr. Jones four children; John, Lydia, Nettie, and Anna; in 1867, Mr. J. started an establishment for the manufacture of brick; he still continues in the same occupation, and manufactures a very superior article.

JONES, ROBERT A. representative farmer of Morgan County, was born in Morgan County, Tenn., in 1818; his father, Waitman Jones, was born in Franklin County, Virginia, in 1797; tracing this family farther, Robert A., the grandfather, was born in England, in 1748, of a wealthy and distinguished family; he acquired a liberal education, and became one among the noted scholars of England; he then married an English lady, who died in England, and whose name is unknown; by this marriage two children: Edward and Phoebe; to better his fortunes he crossed the Atlantic, years before steamboats were seen on the broad waters; settling in Franklin County, Virginia, he there married Miss Susan Richards, by whom he had eight children, six of whom grew to maturity; names: Edward, Phoebe, Reuben, Elizabeth, Waitman, and Susan; Robert A. Jones died in Virginia, after a long and busy life; Waitman, the father of the subject of this notice, grew up in Virginia and Tennessee, where he married Miss Esther Stewart; by this marriage twelve children: Robert, Mary, Brice, Susannah, Reuben, Edward, Elah, Phoebe, Elizabeth, Esther Jane, Hannah A., and Winny C.; Mr. Jones settled some five miles from Waverly, in Morgan County, in 1828; he had on arrival but $9.50 in money, and a pony; his family small, but each strove and worked for a better condition of affairs; in Morgan county the old folks passed the remainder of their lives, where they were living witnesses of the stirring scenes of western life. Robert, who heads this sketch, grew up on the homestead, and when old enough attended a subscription school; his present liberal education was derived by his own indomitable will, long after his schooling ended; Mr. Jones married, in Macoupin County, Miss Letitia Ann England; by this marriage fourteen children: Catherine M., Elah, Minerva, Martha Ann, John, Lucinda, Elizabeth, Esther J., Susannah, Mary m., Waitman A., Jas. P., Wm. D., and Samuel E., ten of whom are living; Mr. Jones, like many men of enterprise, commenced life with but little save a rugged will, his first tax receipt was for 37 cents, a vast difference compared to his present prosperous condition, owning 600 acres of valuable land, and Waverly property, and takes a front rank as a farmer and citizen of this county.

JORDAN, WILLIAM S., farmer, Sec. 31, P.O. Jacksonville. Born in St. Clair Co., Ill., May 10, 1803. About the year 1810 he moved with his father, James Jordan, to Pike Co., Mo.; in the Spring of 1822 he settled in Morgan Co., Ill.; in 1832 he enlisted in the Black Hawk war; was married to Eliza Hill, Nov. 2, 1830. She was born in Pennsylvania, Jan. 18, 1807, and came to Jacksonville in 1828. Their children are, James, born Nov. 6, 1831; John F., Jan. 22, 1834; Henry B., Dec. 24, 1838, and died March 5, 1863, while in the army, at the hospital at Nashville, Tenn.; William H., born May 20, 1840; Mrs. Sarah J. Blackburn, Aug. 2, 1843; Mrs. Eliza E. Craig, July 6, 1845; George H., Feb. 21, 1847; Charles W., Aug. 12, 1849. Robert and Mary died in infancy. Owns farm of 230 acres. Mr. Jordan is member of M.E. Church. His father, James Jordan, served in the Revolutionary war.

JOY, JOHN P., farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 4, P.O. Jacksonville, born in Durham, N.H., May 17, 1806, and removed to this county September, 1838, where he has resided ever since, he may thus be regarded as one of the early settlers of this county, and one whose interests are closely identified with its growth and improvement. Married in New Hampshire to Judith P. Batcheldor, born Aug. 14, 1805. the fruits of this union were two children: Lyman F., born Feb. 3, 1833, and a son who died in early infancy. Mrs. Joy died Jan. 9, 1849. Mr. Joy married again Aug. 17, 1853, at Beardstown, to Jane, daughter of Robert and Elizabeth Bigger, formerly of Ohio, born Sept. 6, 1823; this union has been blessed by four children, two of whom, however, only survive, viz.: James A., born Aug. 29, 1856, and Charles B., born Jan. 31, 1859. Mr. Joy has devoted his industries strictly to agricultural pursuits. The homestead consists of 500 acres, beautifully located and highly improved.

JOY, LYMAN F., farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 4, P.O. Jacksonville, first son of John P. Joy, born in New Hampshire, Feb. 3, 1833, and removed to this county with his parents at the early age of five years. Married May 31, 1855, to Angelica, daughter of Thomas and Sarah Haseltine, of Vermont, born May 10, 1838. This union has been blessed by five children: Minnie, born May 25, 1858; Nettie, born June 22, 1860; Edward F., July 26, 1863; Walter, March 6, 1869, and Ruth Batcheldor, Dec. 6, 1870. Mr. Joy has devoted his industries solely to agricultural pursuits. Homestead consists of 175 acres, beautifully located and highly improved land.