Biography of C.N. Bentley

C.N. Bentley, whose home is on section 21, Harlem township, is one of the venerable figures of the pioneer gatherings of Stephenson county. It indeed has few if any residents whose settlement antedates his own. He knows what it means to open up a new country to civilization, and he is now living in the peace and comfort that follows a long and useful career. Eldred Bentley, the grandfather of the subject of this article, was born in Rhode Island, but spent the greater part of his life in Rensselaer county, New York, and died in Chautauqua county of that … Read more

Justus Todd

Justus Todd6, (Asa5, Gershom4, Gershom3, Michael2, Christopher1) born June 24, 1785, died Feb. 27, 1862, at Ellington, N. Y., married first, April 8, 1807, Cyrene, daughter of Isaac and Mary (Studley) Damon, of Chesterfield, Mass., who was born Oct. 2, 1787, died June 30, 1825. He married second, Mrs. Jemima (Hayden) Shaw, daughter of Caleb and Jemima (Damon) Hayden, she being a cousin to his first wife. She died in 1853, at Ellington, N. Y. Soon after his second marriage they removed to New York Sate, first to Cattaraugus County, thence a little later to Ellington, Chautauqua County, N. Y. … Read more

Biography of Major James M. Beardsley

The above named and beloved patriot was of that branch of the Beardsley family which trace their genealogy in America as far back as 1628. Major Beardsley was born October 30, 1833, at Ellington, Chautauqua County (near the reservation of the Six Nations), New York State; died at Rock Island, August 22, 1903. He came to his future home, this city, in the middle 50’s, while still in his teens, and, though young he was, his inordinate intellect, retentive mind and assiduity had enabled him to attain a thorough academic training. Being admitted to the bar, Mr. Beardsley soon won … Read more