MCDANIEL, JOHN ELSWORTH, a substantial general farmer of township 17, range 11, is one of the leading agriculturalists of Cass County, and one who stands well in public esteem. He was born at Lafayette, Ind., April 10, 1867, a son of John and Jane (Hurst) McDaniel of Ross County, Ohio. The father was a farmer, who in 1869, came to Illinois, locating in Cass County in 1880, and now lives retired, having stopped active work in 1906.

After attending the district schools of his neighborhood, John E. McDaniel entered a law office, and after study with one legal firm, practiced law at Virginia for three years. He then decided to become a farmer and rented land in Cass County, and now successfully handles several hundred acres for other parties. His experiments with alfalfa have made him an authority upon this subject, his crops averaging six tons and over to the acre.

In 1897, Mr. McDaniel was married to Miss Anna Kruse, who died three months later. She was a daughter of George and Elizabeth Kruse. In 1902, Mr. McDaniel married Miss Laura Webster, born in Cass County, a daughter of William and Ellen Webster. Mr. and Mrs. McDaniel have had the following children: Harold, Edna, Mary, and Ruel and Russel, twins, and Dora and Emma, twins. In political affiliation Mr. McDaniel is a Republican. Fraternally he belongs to the Foresters at Virginia. A man of energy and ability, Mr. McDaniel is forging to the front, and undoubtedly is destined to become a man of large means and considerable influence in his community.