My Genealogy Hound

JAMES E. KILLION, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 14; P. O. Downs; born in Clay Co., Ind., March 3, 1828; his grandfather, Adam Killion, was a Revolutionary patriot, and served in the American army during the Revolutionary struggle, until he was captured by the British, from whom he, with two others made their escape: he died in Indiana, about the year 1821. The father of James E. Killion was Matthias J. Killion, who was born April 26, 1804; he married, upon the 18th of March, 1824, Nancy A. Barnett; she was born in Indiana, Jan. 21, 1805; she died Nov. 13, 1843, leaving nine children, of whom six are now living; Mr. K. married a, second time, and has by his second wife twelve children, making twenty-one in all; he now lives near his son James E., at the advanced age of 75 years, and in possession of all his faculties. The subject of this sketch is the oldest son; he attended common school in his youth, and assisted his father upon the farm until 18 years of age, when he commenced as farm laborer, working by the month at farming and contracting at clearing timber and cutting rails until 23 years of age, when he purchased 106 acres of land in Clay Co., and for which he paid in full with the receipts of his savings for the last five years previous. Upon the 27th day of August, 1851, he was united in marriage with Elizabeth Ratliff; she was born April 25, 1830, and died Feb. 16, 1858; they had four children by this union — Nancy E., born June 20, 1852, died Oct. 29, 1857; Emily J., born March 31, 1854; Sarah A.., born March 23, 1856; John N., born Feb. 5, 1858; died Oct. 10, 1858. His marriage with Elizabeth Brown was celebrated Jan. 9, 1859, in Indiana; she was born in Wayne Co., Ind., May 1, 1836; they have five children by this union — Malinda E., born Dec 22, 1862; James O., Feb. 26, 1863; William J., born March 14, 1865; Charley B., born July 1, 1870, and Nettie L., born Oct. 15, 1873. Upon the marriage of Mr. Killion, he built him a log house, with a stick chimney, in which he lived until 1861, when he erected a brick residence, in which he lived until 1865, when he disposed of his whole farm and came West; he first purchased 106 acres in Indiana, for which he paid $2.50 an acre, and which was perfectly wild and heavy timber; he cleared the timber and disposed of the same for $40 per acre. In April, 1866, he emigrated to Illinois and purchased 160 acres of land, upon Section 14, Downs Township, McLean Co., upon which he then located and where he now lives; he has since added, until he now owns 240 acres, which he has made by his own hard labor, energy and industry. He and his wife are both members of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ, Mr. K. having been a member for twenty-two years, and Mrs. K. for a period of nineteen years; they also have three children, members of the same church.