ISAAC D. McLAUGHLIN. One of the finest country seats in Scott County has been built up by the subject of this notice, who is one of the leading men of township 14, range 13. His career has been marked by honest industry and that strict devotion to principle which has gained him the highest esteem of his fellow-citizens. He is one of those men who have no use for an idler and who look with contempt upon a mean or questionable act. Walking by his side for, lo, these many years, and encouraging him in his worthy ambitions has been one of the most estimable woman of her time - Mrs. Amanda (Shibe) McLaughlin, who has in all respects been the suitable helpmate and companion of such a man as her husband. Their mutual efforts resulted in the accumulation of a fine property, at one time embracing 262 acres of land. This, however, has not gone out of the family, as Mr. McLaughlin has deeded considerable of it to his children, being himself now the owner of 140 acres. This with its buildings and other improvements forms a pleasant and valuable homestead where he and his estimable wife may spend their declining years free from care and anxiety.

Our subject was born about ten miles from Portsmouth, Ohio, Feb. 27, 1832, but was brought to Illinois by his parents when an infant and reared on the old McLaughlin homestead. He acquired such education as the schools of that time afforded, pursuing his studies principally in the winter season, and as soon as old enough began making himself useful around the farm, rolling logs, burning brush, cutting grain with a sickle and experiencing all the vicissitudes of life on the frontier. At the same time those days were not unmixed with pleasure and happiness - the result of that healthy mental and moral training which was given him by most excellent parents.

When not quite twenty years of age, only weighing 120 pounds, and with a capital of $1.50, Isaac McLaughlin was married, Sept. 11, 1851, to Miss Amanda Shibe, a maiden approaching the twentieth year of her age. They had grown up together from childhood, attending the same school and mingling with the youth of their neighborhood in rural pastimes and pleasures. The absence of wealth was no particular drawback, as they began their wedded life because they were strong in mutual affection and with an abundance of good health. After their marriage they settled on section 14 and Mr. McLaughlin occupied himself at farming. Their mutual industry met with its legitimate reward and in the course of a few years they found themselves in a good position financially and have since been uniformly prosperous. The present residence was completed in the fall of 1872. It is a substantial two story structure, the main part 42x40 feet in dimensions, with a wing. It is flanked by a good barn and other outbuildings common to the well-regulated homestead. There is an abundance of fruit and shade trees and all other embellishments which have so much to do with the happiness and comfort of the household. Mr. McLaughlin during the last fifteen years has spent hundreds of dollars in improvements and also in the meantime has purchased about $10,000 worth of land.

To our subject and his estimable wife there were born eight children, two of whom are deceased, namely, Jasper who died in 1885 at the age of twenty-nine years, and Daniel Henry who died when six months old. Their eldest son, John William, married Miss Emma J. Gross, and is the father of five children - Laura B., Edward F., Isaac E., Clara M., and Elizabeth L. Wealthy E. and George T. are at home with their parents; Isaac L. married Miss Olive M. Hoover, and they have one child - Marietta; Benjamin F. and Isaiah B. are attending school. As the children of Mr. McLaughlin become of age he gives them sixty acres of land and those in possession of their property are doing well and bid fair to reflect honor upon their parental training.

The parents of our subject were Daniel and Elizabeth (Utt) McLaughlin, the father a native of Hampshire County, Virginia. He emigrated early in life to Ohio, where he was married and prosecuted farming for a time, then coming to Illinois settled in that part of Morgan County which is now Scott. His pioneer experience was similar to that of hundreds of others during which time he labored and waited and met with his reward. Five sons and three daughters gathered around the family hearthstone, seven of whom were born in the Buckeye State. There are now only two living - John and the subject of this sketch.

Mrs. McLaughlin, the fifth child of her parents, was born Nov. 21, 1830, in township 14, range 13, Scott County, where her father settled upon coming to this State. She is the daughter of Casper and Margaret (Lookingbee) Shibe, who were natives respectively of Philadelphia, Pa., and North Carolina, and were of Dutch ancestry. They removed with their families to Indiana early in life and were married in that State. Mr. Shibe in his native city learned the trade of ship carpenter, but after coming to the West engaged in farming. He spent his last years in Scott, dying in 1865 at the age of seventy-four years. The mother survived her husband until 1873, and passed away at the age of seventy-seven. They were the parents of eight children, three sons and five daughters of whom there are living one son and four daughters. These are mostly living in Scott County.

Mr. McLaughlin is a man of more than ordinary intelligence and is noted for his liberality, giving freely of his means for the establishment and maintenance of schools and churches and encouraging all other enterprises tending to the social and moral elevation of the community. He has made it the rule of his life to live within his income and to be prompt in meeting his obligations. He is prominently connected with the I.O.O.F. of Winchester, and in politics is an uncompromising Democrat. Mrs. McLaughlin has been a member in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church for the long period of thirty-five years.