My Genealogy Hound

JOHN PRICE, retired farmer; P. O. Downs; one of the early pioneers of McLean Co., born in Mecklenberg Co., N. C., Jan. 23, 1802. His father was of Welsh descent, born in North Carolina Nov. 12. 1768. He removed to Kentucky at an early day, and to McLean Co., Ill., in 1836, where he died Nov. 16, 1852. He was married in North Carolina to Sarah Beatty. She was born in Ireland in 1769, and died in this county in 1843. John Price emigrated with his parents to Kentucky in 1804, being then 2 years of age, and, with the exception of three years’ residence in Tennessee, lived in Kentucky until 1830, when he came to McLean Co., Ill., and located eighty acres upon Sec. 4, Town 22, Range 3 east. From 1830 to 1836, he resided a part of the time upon his place here and a portion also in Kentucky, and, at the latter date, he located permanently with his family, and is admitted by all to be the oldest continuous resident of Downs Township. When he first came in here looking for a location, he rode from the place where J. E. Crumbaugh now lives to his present location, a distance of ten miles, at which time there was not a single white settler on the way, the country at that time being occupied by the Kickapoo Indians. Bloomington contained but a few log houses and one store, kept by James Allin, who kept a limited stock of goods, purchased at St. Louis. His voting-place was in Bloomington until 1841, when he, with four others, petitioned the Court for a voting-place, which petition was granted, and was named, in honor of Mr. John Price, as Price’s Precinct. Mr. Price entered land, as he was able, until he held patents from the Government to 1,000 acres, and a part of which he has lived upon for the past forty-four years. Of township offices he has held his full share, having held the offices of Town Treasurer and Justice of the Peace, fourteen years, and other petty offices, and has taken a deep interest and has been looked upon as one of the prominent men of his township. The early settlers at Price’s Precinct, unlike, the pioneers of many localities, were religious people, and, like the ancient Israelites, experienced no trouble in worshiping God even in the wilderness, and John Price generously donated the use of his house for a tabernacle. In this house, services were held by the Baptists, the Methodists and the Presbyterians, and was used as a place of worship some eight years. Upon, Sept. 13, 1821, he was united in marriage with Matilda Rives. She was born in Franklin Co., Va., May 16, 1797. She was a daughter of Burwell Rives, who was one of the prominent men of Virginia, where he was born in 1772. He died in Kentucky in October, 1811. He was married in Virginia to Mary Gillum. She was born in Virginia in 1776, and died ten days previous to her husband. Mr. and Mrs. Price were the parents of eight children, of whom two now survive, viz.: Peter B., whose biography appears among the sketches of this township, and Mrs. Frederick Couden, whose sketch appears among the biographies of Old Town Township in another part of this work. The golden wedding of Mr. and Mrs. Price was celebrated Sept. 13, 1871, at which there were upward of one hundred present, among which were four who witnessed the marriage ceremony fifty years previous. The presents were numerous and expensive, among which we mention two solid, gold-headed ebony canes, two pairs gold-bowed spectacles, $20 in gold, gold-band China tea sets, and many other presents, all of which spoke volumes of respect and esteem in which these early pioneers are held by their neighbors, relatives and friends.