HENRY TODD, the subject of this article, was born in Greene county, North Carolina, near a place called Snow Hill, on the 11th of September, 1802. This poartion of the state was very rugged, and the tilling of the soil was a very arduous and unsatisfactory operations. The surface was covered with a very heavy growth of timber, and much labor was requisite in order to prepare the land for a crop. The advantages for obtaining an intellectual or moral education were extremely rare, and, on account of these and other considerations, the father of the above, James Todd, determined to remove to Roane county, East Tennessee. His wife, whose maiden name was Frances Hughes, was deeply interested in the welfare of her children, and no doubt was the means of Mr. T.'s emigration to Tennessee. Accordingly, when the subject of this history was quite a small boy, Mr. T. settled near Kingston, Roane county, Tenn., and commenced turning the wilderness into a corn field. This section was nearly as rough as that they had left on their old place, but after the timber was cleared the soil was found to be quite fertile. Felling the timber and grubbing the brush occupied most of the men, while the women spun, wove, and looked after the affairs of the household. Even in the wilderness, and at such an early period in the history of the west, the citizens had many and grave thoughts as to the education of their children; so they built several log school houses, and engaged, as far as possible, the most intelligent of their citizens as instructors. The schools were sustained on the subscription plan, and the poor were allowed equal privileges with those in possession of better worldly advantages, as ample provision was made for them by those liberal minded pioneers. Unfortunately for our subject, the nearest school house was four miles distant, and he could not avail himself to any great extent of the advantages of the school. Some of the teachers are well remembered by Mr. Todd. A portion were adapted to their profession by reason of their education and general intelligence; but the greater part was composed of men but little advanced above their pupils in the rudiments of our "mother tongue". One teacher, Jacob S. Macomb, is especially remembered by our subject as a man of uncommon intelligence and literary ability, and possessing rare powers as a disciplinarian. To him, Mr. T. says, "is due whatever I attained as regards a knowledge of the main principles of the English language." He remained at home assisting his father in farming till his marriage to Miss Dicey McKinney, daughter of John and Nancy McKinney, old settlers on the Clinch river. The McKinneys were among the most respectable and intelligent people in that section of the state, and their memory is cherished by the remaining pioneers, as well as the descendants of those who have passed away, as the recollection of noble and far seeing citizens, who accomplished much of good for their section and state.

A short time before Mr. Todd's marriage he had purchased some land, and upon this he removed a short time after his union. Game was very plenty, deer roaming in large numbers up and down the timber, and advancing even among the cornfields. Wolves preyed upon the flocks of the settlers, and made night hideous with their barking. Occasionally the bears would break in upon their hogs, and carry off in safety one or more of their swine. Still, for all these disadvantages, the family prospered slowly from year to year. Much of their land was ready for tillage, considerable live stock was on hand, and they had the satisfaction of seeing the settlement increase, not only in numbers, but also in morality and education. From time to time they had heard of the vast and fertile prairies of Illinois, that the land was more easily tilled, the crops larger, and the harvest more secure, and that many of their fellow Tennesseans preferred its climate on account of its salubrity. So Mr. Todd resolved to sell his farm and remove to the Prairie State. Accordingly, he did so, and started in the spring of 1829 for Illinois. The route was long and tedious, as they traveled in wagons, and had some stock to drive. Nothing occurred during the journey to interfere with their general plans, so they safely arrived in Jacksonville on the 27th of May, 1829. He immediately entered land in the western portion of the county which now constitutes Scott. For the improvement of this property he labored early and late for nine years. It was during this period (1930-31) that the "deep snow" occurred. There were forty different storms in all, covering the ground to the depth of about three feet. The surface being frozen, the deer would break through, and thus become an easy prey to the hunter and his dogs. Immense numbers of deer were slaughtered, more perished for want of food, and the dearth of venison was greatly lamented by the entire country in the following years. With plenty of provisions, and timber being nigh, the settlers passed that terrible winter in safety.

In 1838 Mr. Todd purchased his present homestead, and since that time has been constantly adding to the farm, till now it ranks the largest in the county. The first land was entered at one dollar and twenty-five cents per acre. The last purchase was at the rate of thirty dollars per acre. The same is worth, today, from sixty-five to seventy dollars per acre. Having great confidence in the future, Mr. T. invested largely in the land, and from these investments has accumulated a handsome fortune. When he first came to Jacksonville, it was only a small trading point, noted particularly for having the land office within its bounds. Little of the prairie was cultivated, the settles principally locating near the timber, and farming that portion of the adjoining prairie. But little wheat was raised, the people depending upon corn in its place. Pork was plenty, and sold generally for a dollar a hundred. Corn at ten cents a bushel made farming not a very lucrative profession. The mills were at a great distance, generally, and, these being horse power, the pioneers were obliged to wait for days in order to get their meal. Notwithstanding these drawbacks, the people enjoyed themselves. Their sports were not the fashionable pastimes of today, but the athletic games which conduce to physical strength. They also had their "quilting bees", and sociables, in which young and old both took part with great zeal.

As the result of the marriage, twelve children were born, of whom eight are living. Mrs. Todd is over sixty-three years of age, and yet is able to do all her own work without the assistance of any help. She is a representative woman of that class who were true helpmeets to their husbands. We trust that her example may be imitated by the gentler sex, and that the "coming woman" may not only be gifted intellectually, but that she may look after her household duties as faithfully as the noble lady spoken of above. Mr. Todd has avoided public life, though often the citizens have asked him to accept nominations for various positions. He believed his true sphere to be on the farm and in the home circle, and for that reason never took any prominent part in politics. While refusing to be a candidate for any office, he yet is interested in the discussions of platforms and parties. He has been connected with the democratic party for nearly fifty years, and has ever held to those Jeffersonian principles of "economy, and the greatest good for the greatest number." At the present time, while a presidential contest is raging, and party leaders are crying out their devotion to party, it is refreshing to hear the calm, patriotic words of our subject, who never would sacrifice the common good of the people at large to any partisan triumph. Upon men of his character, the well being and safety of the country depend, and to them the people must look for counsel if we would preserve the federal government in all its integrity. Mr. T. is an ardent friend of education, fully appreciating, in his own case, the lack of a liberal education. He favors the public school system, and advocates the extension of the same to all, believing the education of youth to be a prevention of crime. One cannot but feel, after a conversation with the subject of this record, that his ideas as regards our institutions of learning are correct, and that his habits of reading and observation have made him conversant with out intellectual advancement and progress as a county and state. Though over seventy years of age, he preserves much of the vigor of his early years. He attends personally to the management of his large estate, though does not participate in the laborious duties of harvesting, etc. He is respected by all with him he associates as a man, is well versed in agricultural science, and as such the neighboring farmers often take counsel of him in matters pertaining to farming and kindred subjects. Having a kind and genial nature, and possessing more than an ordinary share of benevolence and liberality, he is endeared to all, the rich and the poor, the stranger as well as the acquaintance, as an honest, upright, and charitable citizen. Mr. Todd, for over twenty years, has been a member of the Christian Church. Though not a sectarian by nature or affiliation, he believes the true church to be included in "one fold," - "one Lord, one faith, one baptism," is his creed. As a member of the above Christian organization, he has aided and encouraged the same, in spreading its truth to all men by every means that lay in his power. As a Christian gentleman, his heart ever listens to the call of suffering humanity, without regard to race, sect, or condition.

Such, in brief, will give some faint idea of the character and life of Henry Todd. Few, today, have had the same opportunities for observing the rise of states in population, intelligence, and wealth. What a change has taken place since he commenced his long journey to this section of Illinois! Little did he think that Illinois would soon take rank among the leading states in the Union, that its population would be counted by millions, and that for intellectual and religious institutions it could not be surpassed by any state in the Union. He has seen many a war threatening the peace and prosperity of the state or Union; but the ship of state still proudly floats, and is the best monument of the bravery and industry of those hardy men who laid the foundation of our prosperity so many years ago. We trust that the rising generation may not forget the example of those early settlers, who have contributed so much to their comforts and privileges.