TREADWAY, JAMES, was the son of John Norris and Rebecca (McKean) Treadway, born March 31, 1832, in Monroe Precinct, near Beardstown, Illinois. In 1844, known as the "year of the high water," he came with his parents and brothers, Thomas, Edward, William, John, Henry, Lewis and Martin, to Beardstown, all of whom are deceased, except William, now eighty-six years of age, residing in Little Rock, Ark. He worked when a small boy, in the John Eiler brick yard, located on Third and Edwards streets at 6�� per day, purchasing for his mother with his first earnings, a set of the "old blue willow-ware" cups and saucers.

James Treadway learned the milling and carpenter trades when Beardstown was the great pork packing center, then called "Pork-o-polis". He engaged with his father in the making of pork barrels and lard tierces, conducting three shops with a force of men. His father withdrew and lived to the age of ninety-two years, having served in the war of 1812. James continued to conduct the business until the pork packing industry ceased, afterward in a small way supplying the farmers with barrels, until poor health compelled him to retire. He was married Dec. 27, 1855, to Miss Rebecca Mary Rawlings, daughter of Greenberry and Elizabeth Rawlings, who lived on a farm on North Prairie, near Arenzville, Ill., he purchasing for their home the spot where he worked when a boy for a "picayune" a day. Here they lived until the father passed away. To them were born four children: Eliza Bell, Oliver Greenberry, Norris Luama, and Clara Olive, the last the only surviving one and now the wife of A. E. Schmoldt, of Beardstown, Ill. The mother survived her husband nine years, making her home with her daughter, passing away April 14, 1913, at the age of eighty-one years, eight months and sixteen days. She was born August 30, 1831, at Port Deposit, Md.

There was a strange coincidence in the death of husband and wife, he passing away March 28, 1904, during the next highest water known to the year he came to Beardstown, rendering access to the cemetery impossible with vehicles, necessitating a railroad train to convey the remains to their last resting place, and the wife's demise occurred during the highest stage of water ever known, in the year 1913.