great many years and at one time drove twenty-three hundred head through the northern part of the state.
In 1863, in Kane county, Illinois, Mr. Eddy was united in marriage to Miss Sarah A. Mark, her parents being Aaron and Eliza Mark, the former a native of New York and the latter of Vermont. Mrs. Mark, whose birth occurred in January, 1828, came to this county with her daughter and son-in-law in 1865. Mr. and Mrs. Eddy are the parents of four children, the record of whom is as follows. Frank Sherman, who was born in Kane county, Illinois, on the 27th of April, 1864, wedded Miss Susan Hicks, of Sherman township, and is cultivating a tract of land just east of his father's farm. He is a member of the Methodist Episcopal church and also a worthy exemplar of the Masonic fraternity, belonging to the lodge at Zearing. Orlando M., whose birth occurred on the 4th of March, 1869, married Miss Belle Fisher and lives on a farm northwest of the old homestead. He intends to take up his abode in Howard county, Iowa, in the near future. His religious faith is indicated by his membership in the Methodist Episcopal church. Dwight Wilson, whose natal 'day was September 26, 1879, wedded Miss Viola Thomas and is now successfully engaged in farming. William Cooper, who was born on the 19th of September, 1881, resides on his father's farm and also has land of his own in Sherman township.
Mr. Eddy gives his political allegiance to the democratic party and is now serving as chairman of the township board. The cause of education has ever found in him a warm friend and as a school director he has done much to further its interests. He is a valued member of Pacific Lodge, No. 469, A. F. & A. M., of Zearing, and attends the services of the Methodist Episcopal church. He has lived his life to good purpose, recognizing and utilizing each opportunity as it has come to him, while the methods which he has ever pursued have been such as inspired the trust, confidence and good will of all with whom he has been associated.
CHARLES F. RUTH.
An excellent farm of one hundred and ninety acres on sections 11 and 14, Franklin township, is the property of Charles F. Ruth, and indicates in its well kept appearance the careful supervision which he gives to the place and the modern methods which he follows in its cultivation. He was born in Lake county, Illinois, October 7, 1856, and is a son of Irwin and Leah (Brown) Ruth, both of whom were natives of Berks county, Pennsylvania. When eighteen years of age the father made his way to Freeport, Illinois, and thence walked to Lake county, that state, a distance of one hundred miles. He secured sixty acres of land which is now included within the corporation limits of Chicago, after which he walked back to Freeport,