Elisha Linder, farmer; P. O. Mattoon; was born in Hardin Co., Ky., Aug. 16, 1807; his early life was passed upon the farm, and his education was such as the schools of those days afforded; when less than seven years of age, He lost his father, and being the oldest of the family, he soon became the head; his father was a man of energy and thrift, and left the family well provided for; in 1829, young Linder came West, to Illinois, and prospected the county; remaining two months, he returned to Kentucky, and in January, 1831, came again to Illinois; in October following, he moved his mother and family-a brother and two sisters-and located near where he now resides; on arriving at what was to be their future home, they possessed, in actual cash, $2.50, just enough to purchase half a barrel of salt; he bought a few head of horses, cattle and a flock of sheep; he was first to introduce sheep into this section of country; his first purchase was forty acres, slightly improved; he has owned at one time 2,000 acres of land, and at present owns about 1,200 acres; in almost every undertaking, he has been very successful. He was married in April, 1839, to Rebecca Sawyer, a native of Kentucky; her father, John Sawyer, was one of the early pioneers of this section; from this union, fourteen children have been born-three sons and eleven daughters; of these, three sons and eight daughters are still living. Mr. Linder has held the office of Township Supervisor three or four terms.
