My Genealogy Hound

ELIJAH PRIEST, retired farmer, Sec. 12 ; P.O. Hudson; born in Muskingum Co., Ohio, Sept. 10, 1812, but removed to Licking Co., that State, where he resided until his removal to the West. He is a son of James and Hannah (Anderson) Priest. The subject of this sketch, prior to his locating in the West, was engaged in making charcoal, and also during the winter season worked in a smelting-furnace, the latter occupation requiring great care, and, also, exposure to intense heat. Mr. Priest reached his twenty-first birthday on the 10th of September, 1833, and the following day was married to Miss Rebecca Hinthorn, who was born in Licking Co., Ohio, Nov. 16, 1812. In June, 1834, he removed to Illinois, and, on the 8th day of the following month, arrived at his present home in Hudson Township, this county. Mr. Priest, like many of the pioneers, brought little else with him to the country than a strong constitution and industrious habits, which, combined with economy, have gained him a competence for life; he now owns 800 acres of land in Hudson and Money Creek Townships. Mr. Priest relates many incidents of early times; and, although many of these incidents will be related in the histories of townships, we copy one from the “Good Old Times in McLean Co.:” “He ran out of provisions near Big Grove then called Pin Hook, now Urbana; he made many inquiries, and heard that a certain man had recently two sacks of meal ground at a mill; Mr. Priest wished to buy some, and sent a boy named Henry Moats to get it. Henry came back empty-handed, but reported that the man had a big corn-pone on the fire. Mr. Priest then went with the boy, and the latter was instructed to open the door when Priest stood by the fire. Mr. Priest offered to buy some meal, but was refused; then he stood by the fire where the pone was cooking, and Henry immediately opened the door. Priest was then about to walk off with the pone, but the man of the house saw that he must give way, and he allowed Priest a peck of meal.” Mr. Priest had by his first wife seven children, four of whom died in infancy; only two are now living — James S. and George W.; their daughter Sarah died July 17, 1876; Mrs. Priest’s death occurred April 30, 1867. He was again married, Sept. 11, 1870, to Mrs. Minerva McCurdy; her maiden name was Johnston; she was born in Ohio; her death occurred Jan. 24, 1875.