tucky, born in Knox County in 1810. The father of our subject came to Vermillion County in 1826, having lived a short time previous in Bloomington, Indiana. He made his home in Eugene Township until about 1832, when he removed to Perrysville. In early life he learned the art of distilling, and later he engaged in the manufacture of pumps, which he followed many years, supplying the early settlers. Later in life he followed the occupation of farming. At the breaking out of the war of the Rebellion he resolved, although then sixty-three years of age, to offer his services to the Government, which were accepted, and he became a member of the Thirteenth Missouri Infantry. He entered the army through motives of pure patriotism, and gave his life for his country. He fought with his regiment at Fort Donelson, where he became disabled from the effects of the exposure he had undergone, and was soon after transferred to the Invalid Corps. He died at Indianapolis, March 28, 1864. The mother of our subject died at the home of her son, James B. Richardson, March 3, 1880, aged seventy years and three days. She was a daughter of Amos Cox, a native of North Carolina, who settled in Kentucky when twenty-five years old. He subsequently came to Indiana, and settled near Bloomington in an early day. Four of the sons of Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Richardson were soldiers in the late war. Edward was a member of Company C, Twelfth Illinois Infantry; was wounded in the left arm at the battle of Shiloh, from the effects of which he died a few months later. Alexander enlisted with his father in the same regiment, and served until the close of the war. His regiment, the Thirteenth Missouri, after a time was consolidated with the Twenty-second Ohio, and was afterward known as the Twenty-second Ohio. Henry G., the youngest son, was too young to enter the service at the beginning of the war but later served as a member of Company D, Fifty-seventh Indiana Infantry. James B. Richardson, the subject of this sketch, enlisted first in the Twelfth Illinois Infantry for ninety days, and later became a member of the Sixth Indiana Cavalry, in which he served during the last two years of the war, being on duty in Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama and Georgia, and was actively engaged during his whole term of service. The remaining children born to Mr. and Mrs. Richardson are as follows -- Horace the eldest son, resides in Vernon County, Missouri; Homer died in 1853, aged about twenty years; Elizabeth is the wife of Esau McFall, of Danville, Illinois; Mary is the wife of Peter Oliphant, also living in Danville, Illinois. James B. Richardson was reared in Vermillion County, to the avocation of a farmer, and is still engaged in agricultural pursuits. He has resided on his present homestead since 1844, with the exception of the time spent in the war and is classed among the most respected and intelligent men in Highland township. In politics he is a strong adherent to the principles of the Republican party, and has served his township as assessor several times. Mrs. Richardson was formerly Miss Corintha Nichols, and is a daughter of William Nichols, of Highland Township. Five children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Richardson, whose names are -- Homer, Susan A. Ettie, Emma and James J.
JOHN PEER, farmer, section 3, Helt Township, Vermillion County, was born in the same township, August 12, 1833, a son of John Peer, who was born in Franklin County, Ohio, near Columbus. He came
to Vermillion County, Indiana, when a boy, where he hired out as a farm hand. He subsequently settled near Newport, and in 1831 moved to Helt Township, where he made his home until his death. The subject of this sketch was reared on his father's farm, to agricultural pursuits, and his education was obtained in the rude log cabin subscription schools of pioneer days, with their slab seats and puncheon floor. He was married in September 1857, to Miss Mahala Crusour, a daughter of Moses Crusour, deceased. Ten children were born to them, of whom nine are still living -- William F., Mary C., David M., Martha J., Emma, James O., Prior, Lydia A. and Rhoda E. Mrs. Peer died July 7, 1879, and December 14, 1884, Mr. Peer married Mrs. Lucy E. Dicken, a daughter of Joseph Fisher, and widow of Joel Dicken. By her first marriage she had five children, two of whom are deceased -- Henry F., who died at the age of eighteen years, and Martha A., died in her seventh year. The names of her living children are -- Allen B., Flora B. and William A. Mr. Peer has always followed farming, in which he has been very successful, and is now the owner of 140 acres of choice land. In connection with his general farming he is engaged in stock-raising. He is a member of the Odd Fellows order. He and his wife and his three eldest daughters are members of the Methodist Episcopal church.
NICHOLAS T. LEITON, farmer, section 26, Helt Township, was born in Ross County, Ohio, August 25, 1834, a son of Thomas Leiton, a native of Virginia, and an early settler of Ohio. In 1836 the family came to Vermillion County, Indiana, and settled in Helt township where in connection with working at his trade, blacksmith, the father engaged in farming. Nicholas T. was reared a farmer and has always devoted his attention to agriculture, a vocation he has followed with profit. He now owns a fine farm of 140 acres, all well improved, and his residence and farm buildings are models of comfort and convenience. Mr. Leiton was given good educational advantages attending in his childhood the common school and later the Farmer's Institute, at Clinton, and the Newport graded schools, and after leaving school he taught five or six winter terms. He is a man of intelligence and well informed on all the general topics of the day, and is one of the most respected citizens of his township. He was married March 2, 1862, to Mary White, daughter of Enoch White, an early settler of Helt Township. Their only child died in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Leiton are members of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which he is Sunday school superintendent. In politics he is a Republican.
MRS. SARAH (VANNEST) MALONE is the oldest resident now living in Vermillion County, and is a daughter of John and Mary (Taylor) Vannest, the pioneer family of the county. Both of her parents were born in Pennsylvania, but married in the State of Ohio. Her father visited Vermillion County early in the year 1816, and selected lands on section 9, Clinton Township, a mile above the present site of Clinton, which he purchased at the Vincennes land sales, and immediately moved his family, then consisting of wife and four children, to their future home. They settled in a hastily erected log cabin in the south-west quarter of the section, and soon after began