War of 1812

Lee County Illinois

Biography of Charles A. Becker

Lee County /

Charles A. Becker was a pioneering settler in Palmyra Township, arriving in 1839 and remaining until his passing in 1859. Born in 1810 in Prussia, Charles fled compulsory military service and immigrated to the United States, where he practiced as a jeweler and clock-maker. Married to Mary Kessler, he ultimately settled in Lee County with her. Charles was an enterprising jeweler and the first in his trade west of Chicago, establishing a thriving farm which his widow later expanded. The Beckers were a well-regarded family in their community; many of their children married and settled nearby, contributing variously as farmers, soldiers, and professionals.

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Lee County Illinois

Biography of George S. and Elliott S. McCleary

Lee County, Carroll County, Lawrence County /

George S. and Elliott S. McCleary, Pennsylvania natives, have become key figures in Nelson Township as dairy farmers. Since their arrival in 1865, they’ve developed their farms into thriving businesses, focusing on quality cattle and dairy production. George’s 138-acre farm and Elliott’s adjoining property showcase their commitment to modern farming practices and community contribution. The brothers’ journey from Pennsylvania, influenced by their Scottish-Irish heritage and family’s pioneering spirit, reflects a legacy of hard work and dedication to agriculture. Their successful ventures in dairy farming underscore their significant role in the local agricultural community.

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History of Bureau County, Illinois Title Page

Biography of Hamilton F. Corey of Ohio, Illinois

Bureau County, Morgan County

Hamilton F. Corey, Ohio, was born in Cayuga County, New York, July 17, 1811, and is the son of John and Lucina Corey, formerly of Connecticut. Mr. Corey’s grandfather, David Rodes, was a soldier of the Revolution, and died in New York at the age of eighty-four. Our subject’s father, John Corey, was a soldier of the war of 1812. The subject of this sketch was raised on the farm, where he resided till the spring of 1835, when he came to this State and settled with his sister (now Mrs. Lemuel Carey) in Morgan County, where he remained till

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