The mother of our subject, was in her girlhood Miss Hannah Williard, daughter of William Williard, a Revolutionary soldier who fought at the battle of Yorktown and in many other engagements under Gen. Wayne. He was a favorite with his commander and was one of those selected to assist in the taking of Stony Point. He spent his last years in Illinois. The mother of our subject survived her husband a number of years, and died at the home of her son, John J., in 1882, when quite aged.
The subject of this sketch was a little more than an infant when his parents came to this county, where he has spent nearly his entire life. He was first married to Miss Emily Long, a native of his own State, and who like came with her parents to this county when quite young. She became the mother of three children, and departed this life at the homestead in January, 1849, while in her prime.
The children of this marriage were all daughters; Harriet became the wife of John Alexander, and died in Kansas, leaving one son; Hannah is the widow of B. H. Job, and is also a resident of Kansas; Mary J., is the wife of William Layton, and they reside on a farm in Cloud County, Kan.
Our subject contracted a second marriage with Miss Mahala Rayborn, a native of Tennessee, who came to Illinois in her youth and after the death of her mother. Her father afterward died in Tennessee. Our subject by his present marriage is the father of three children, one of whom, Maggie, died when an interesting young woman. Sarah is the wife of D. K. McCarthy, and they are living on a farm in the same township as our subject; Samuel married Miss Belle Long, and they also occupy a farm not far from the Goodpasture homestead.
Our subject, politically, does not confine himself to party lines, but aims to support the men whom he considers best qualified to serve the interests of the people. Aside from filling the office of Justice of the Peace he has had very little to do with public affairs, preferring to devote his best efforts to his farming interests. He has one of the pleasantest homes in the county and one which indicates in a forcible manner the enterprise, industry and good taste of the proprietor.