My Genealogy Hound

C. E. BARCLAY, farmer, Sec. 19; P. O. Downs; born in Mason Co., Ky., Sept. 10, 1824. His father, Stephen Barclay, was born in Brown Co., Ohio, Aug. 11, 1800. He was married in Kentucky to Nancy Downing. She was born March 22, 1800, in Kentucky. They were the parents of six children, as follows — Susan, now Mrs. Sylvester Peasley, born June 7, 1822; Charles E., Sept. 10, 1824; Harriet P., March 2, 1827; James, May 14, 1829; Sarah, April 25, 1832; William, Feb. 16, 1835 — the last four are deceased. The subject of this sketch was brought up to farm labor, with his father, until 28 years of age, when, in the fall of 1853, he emigrated to Illinois, and the year of 1854, farmed upon the place of Campbell Wakefield, in Randolph Township, and in the fall of 1854, purchased his present place of 160 acres, which was in a wild state, and which he has brought from its wild prairie condition to its present high state of cultivation, by his own hard labor. He was one of the first settlers upon the prairie; but a very few houses were in view at the time of his locating here. He has followed farming constantly during his residence here, and for the past fifteen years has been engaged in feeding and shipping stock. His marriage with Angeline Biggers, was celebrated May 19, 1850. She was born in Mason Co., Ky., Jan. 23, 1832. She died in McLean Co., June 4, 1867, leaving seven children — James S., born July 29, 1851; Mary A., Aug. 19, 1853; Nancy S., April 17, 1855, (the above three are married and live in Kansas); Charles D., Sept. 9, 1857; John H., May 21, 1860; Susan P., Feb. 20, 1862; George E., July 23, 1865 — the last four are now living at home. His marriage with Elizabeth Willhoit was celebrated Jan. 23, 1868. She was born in Owen Co., Ky., May 8, 1842, she was a daughter of Willis C. and Maria (Hancock) Willhoit, who emigrated from Kentucky and located in McLean Co., Ill., in the spring of 1852. Mr. Willhoit died in McLean Co., April 9, 1873. Mrs. Willhoit is still living; is now in the 74th year of her age. They were the parents of ten children, eight of whom lived to grow up; seven are now living; six of them are living in McLean Co. The children of Charles E., and Elizabeth (Willhoit) Barclay were five in number — Lillie M., born March 7, 1869; Willis J., Nov. 1, 1870; Harry T., May 8, 1872; Hattie E., Aug. 20, 1875; William E., June 25, 1877. Of township and school offices he has had his full share, among which we mention Assessor for three terms, Commissioner of Highways three terms, School Director ten years, Town Clerk one year, and one of the Board of School Trustees for fourteen years, and other petty offices.