Mr. Ore first came to Illinois in 1852, although he did not settle on his present farm until two years later, and he did not become sole owner until 1856. He was born in Jefferson County, Tenn., Nov. 8, 1834, and is the only son of Nelson and Anna (Smith) Ore, who were natives of East Tennessee, and came of excellent families. The paternal grandfather of our subject served as a soldier in the War of 1812, and died in East Tennessee at the advanced age of ninety years. His grandmother's name was Nancy Nance. The mother of our subject was the daughter of William Smith, who also carried a musket during the war above mentioned, and who, like his compeer, Grandfather Ore, also attained to the age of ninety years, and died in Tennessee. He was a farmer by occupation. Grandmother Smith also lived to be nearly ninety years old, as also did Grandmother Ore. Both families seem to have been noted for longevity.

Nelson Ore, after his marriage settled down on a farm in Jefferson County, Tenn., where he remained until after the birth of four children, three daughters and our subject. The father met his death by drowning in the Holsen River when middle aged, and when Calvin, of our sketch, was about five years of age. The mother was subsequently married to Thomas Dyer, and both she and Mr. Dyer spent the remainder of their lives in Jefferson County. The mother was fifty-eight years old at the time of her death, and Mr. Dyer was her senior by many years.

Our subject remained at home with his mother and step-father until eighteen years old, and then starting out for himself, made his way to this county on foot the whole distance. His first business after his arrival here was to secure employment, and he worked as a farm laborer until in a condition to establish a home of his own. He was married, in the township where he now lives, in October, 1855, to Miss Rhoda A. Dyer, who was born in Granger County, Tenn., Jan. 20, 1830. Her parents were William A. and Margaret (Bridgeman) Dyer, also natives of East Tennessee, and the father a general mechanic, working in both wood and iron. Both her maternal and paternal grandfathers were in the War of 1812 and aided in freeing their country from the despotic tyranny of England. Her grandmothers both lived to the advanced age of eighty-three years.

The parents of Mrs. Ore, after their marriage, lived in Tennessee until after the birth of three children, of which Mrs. Ore was the youngest. When she was about ten months old they all came to Illinois and finally settled on a farm in township 16, range 11, where the wife and mother died on the 12 of January, 1878, after having reached her threescore and ten years. Mr. Dyer is still living in this county, and is now eighty-three years old. Both he and his estimable wife united with the Old School Baptist Church many years ago.

Mrs. Ore was the third in a family of twelve children, and was reared to womanhood under the parental roof. Of her union with our subject, there have been born seven children, three of whom are deceased. One child died unnamed, and Ann E. and Vilena died in early childhood. Margaret A., the eldest daughter living, is the wife of William Gilmore, a resident of Cowley County, Kan.; John C. also lives there with his sister; William Robert remains at home and assists in operating the farm; T. Nelson is the youngest of the family. Mr. Ore, politically, is a stanch Democrat, and both he and his wife are members of the Baptist Church. They are widely and favorably known in this county, and are numbered among its most substantial and praiseworthy people.