resided until a short time before the breaking out of the war. They then removed to Schuyler County, Illinois, where the father died in October, 1865, aged fifty-three years. The mother still resides on the old homestead in Schuyler County. The subject of this sketch preceded his parents to Fairfield, Iowa, a few months, where he was engaged for two years as clerk in a drug store. From there he went to Lexington, Missouri, remaining there but a short time when he went to Carthage, Illinois, in March, 1859, and engaged as clerk in a mercantile house, which position he held until May 9, 1861, when he enlisted in Company D, Sixteenth Illinois Infantry. He was mustered into the United States service May 29, 1861, and re-enlisted as a veteran December 23, 1863, his service reaching until July 10, 1865. His regiment was on guard duty until February, 1862, in Missouri, when it became engaged in the operations on the Mississippi. The regiment took part in the siege of Island No. 10, the capture of Fort Pillow, under General Pope, the siege of Corinth, under General Buell in his campaign against General Bragg, during which time they were once besieged at Nashville, Tennessee, in 1863. They also fought at Chickamauga, and in the campaign under General Sherman for possession of Atlanta the regiment did heroic work, and followed the banners of Sherman to the sea, up through the Carolinas, and to the grand review of Sherman's grand army at Washington, D. C. Mr. Wilson gallantly performed a soldier's part in all the battles of his regiment, passing through all unscathed, and after his discharge returned to his home in Illinois, where he remained until 1872. He then went to Douglas County, Kansas, and there followed farming two years, and after visiting Ohio, he, in March, 1875, became a resident of Clinton. Here he first entered the drug store of P. Z. Anderson & Co., and later was employed by B. F. Morey. He established his present business August 15, 1883, in which he is meeting with good success. Mr. Wilson was married at Eaton, Preble County, Ohio, December 23, 1865, to Miss Damia Nourse, who was born in Butler County, Ohio, January 19, 1843, a daughter of E. B. Nourse. In politics Mr. Wilson affiliates with the Republican party. He is a comrade of Owen Post, No. 329, G. A. R., and is at present holding the office of quartermaster of the post.
SILAS N. TODD, foreman of the Cayuga Lumber Company, Cayuga, was born in Putnam County, Indiana, June 15, 1845, his father, John M. Todd, who is now deceased, having been a native of the State of Kentucky. He was reared on the home farm in his native county until attaining the age of fifteen years, when his parents removed to Terre Haute, and there he was employed in spoke manufactories, working for three different companies there. He was then in the employ of Booth, Delany & Co., of Dennison, Illinois, for three years, and also went to Lyon County, Kentucky, where he helped build a spoke factory in Kuttawa, for the same company. He came to Eugene, Vermillion County, in 1881, returning to Terre Haute in 1883, and in January, 1887, came to Cayuga, bringing his family here in the following June. The Cayuga Lumber Company is one of the leading industries of this place, and under the skillful management of Mr. Todd the business is steadily increasing. Mr. Todd enlisted in the late war in Company D, One Hundred and Fifty-sixth Indiana Infantry. He was soon after taken sick with measles and sent to the hospital,
where he received his discharge before taking part in any service. He was married August 9, 1868, to Christian Larkins, a daughter of Sanford Larkins, deceased, and to them have been born four children named -- Dora M., Clova L., Callie B., and Benjamin F. Mr. Todd is a member of the Masonic fraternity. Mrs. Todd is a member of the Christian church of Terre Haute.
WILLIAM H. BENEFIEL, who was one of the old and honored pioneers of Vermillion County, was born in Bourbon County, Kentucky, a son of Samuel and Elizabeth Benefiel. Samuel Benefiel died in Kentucky, and in 1826, his widow came with her son, William H., to Vermillion County, Indiana, where she spent the remainder of her days. She died in 1856, aged seventy-two years. William H. Benefiel was twice married, taking for his first wife Miss Mary Hunt, and to them were born seven children, of whom three are living at the present time. Mr. Benefiel was a second time united in marriage to Mrs. Margaret (Smith) Criveling, a native of New Jersey, and a daughter of Jesse Smith. She was first married in her native State, to William Criveling, and to this union seven children were born, all now deceased. William Criveling was also an old pioneer of Vermillion County, coming here in 1830, his wife following some two or three years later. They settled in Perrysville, where Mr. Criveling followed his trade, that of a carpenter, until his death. Several years later the marriage of Mr. Benefiel and Mrs. Criveling took place, and to them one child, a son William M., was born, the date of his birth being August 2, 1850. he is now a resident of Perrysville, where he is classed among the active and enterprising citizens. William H. Benefiel died July 22, 1885, his widow surviving him until November 24, 1886. While he never attained to wealth, Mr. Benefiel was an industrious citizen, and was highly esteemed by all who knew him. He was a carpenter by trade. In the early history of the county he, with Mr. Criveling, built a number of flat-boats for the purpose of trading between Perrysville and New Orleans. He was a natural mechanic, and in early life also learned the trade of a wheel-wright. He made many spinning wheels after coming to Perrysville. He was always interested in the advancement of his township or county, and was a worthy representative of the brave old pioneers.
AMOS FORMAN, farmer and stock-raiser, section 15, Vermillion Township, was born in Ross County, Ohio, in 1827, a son of Benjamin and Mary (Hines) Forman, natives of Ohio, of German descent. When Amos was a boy his parents came to Vermillion County, and here he was reared, spending his youth on his father's farm. He has devoted his attention to agriculture and now has a fine farm of 224 acres, the greater part under cultivation, and his building improvements are among the best in the county. He is purely a self-made man, having no capital when he started for himself, but by good management he has acquired a competence for his declining years. His first money was earned by running a ferry-boat on the river and from money with those earnings he made his first purchase of land. Mr. Forman is one of the prominent men of the township. He votes with no particular party, giving his suffrage to the man he considers best fitted for the office. He was married in