Prior to his removal to this place, Mr. Dyer owned a farm on township 15, range 12, where he lived four years. He has been a resident of this county since 1874, and made his home for a time with his uncle. He was born in Jonesboro, Tenn., July 7, 1850, and is the son of John Dyer, who at the time of the birth of our subject was Sheriff of the County. He was also born in East Tennessee, and mainly engaged in agricultural pursuits. The mother in her girlhood was Miss Paulina Whitlock, a native of Tennessee and born near Jonesboro. The parents were married in that State and the father lived upon and conducted a farm until 1853, when they removed to Illinois and lived in Scott County and other places in the southern part of the State for many years. The mother died in Scott County in 1859, when about forty years of age, from cancer. She was a good woman and an active member of the Missionary Baptist Church.

The children of the parental family comprised four sons and two daughters. One son, William, during the Civil War enlisted in Company C, in an Ill. Infantry regiment and met death on the battle field of Shiloh. He was at the time acting as Lieutenant. The eldest, James, is employed as a book-keeper in Pittsburgh, Cherokee Co., Kan. He served in the Union army three years, and was once slightly wounded. John is Deputy Circuit Clerk, and makes his home in Winchester, Scott County. He served in the army ninety days. Rebecca, the only sister living of our subject, is the wife of William White, who was shot by the hot-heads of Missouri during the war. Mrs. White is yet living, making her home in Canton, where she is carrying on a good business for herself.

The subject of this sketch was but a lad when his parents came to Illinois. A few years later his father removed to Pleasant View, Cherokee Co., Kan., where he died when about fifty-five years old. He was a Whig during his early life but later became identified with the Democratic party. Our subject has been familiar with farm life from boyhood and naturally chose this as a vocation. When ready to establish a home of his own, he was married in Jacksonville, in July, 1876, to Miss Sarah E. Liter. This lady was born in this county, July 16, 1857. Her parents, Abraham and Elizabeth (Liter) Liter, were natives of Kentucky, an came to Illinois at an early day, settling on land from which they constructed a good farm, and where the father made his home for the long period of forty years. He died in August, 1880, while the death of the mother took place two years prior, when she was seventy years old. Both were active members of the Christian Church.

Mrs. Dyer was the youngest child of her parents, whose family consisted of four sons and four daughters; one son and daughter are deceased; the others make their home mostly in Illinois and Kansas. The Liter homestead is situated in township 15, range 10, and there Mrs. Dyer was reared to womanhood. She acquired her education in the common school, and became mistress of those housewifely duties the knowledge of which has so much to do with the comfort and happiness of home.

Of her union with our subject there have been born four children, one of whom, Leroy, died at the age of four months. The others, Olie, Henry E., and Stella F. are at home with their parents. Mr. Dyer votes the straight Democratic ticket, and with his estimable wife is held in high respect in his community.