My Genealogy Hound

SIMEON H. WEST, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Arrowsmith; Mr. West was born in Bourbon Co., Ky., where he attended the common schools during the winter until 16 years of age, after which he engaged in farming until he emigrated to Illinois, and located in West Township in the spring of 1851. West Township received its name in honor of his father, who was the first Supervisor of the township, which office he held until 1869, when he removed to Bloomington, where he has since lived. In 1852, the subject of this sketch went to California, going down the river to New Orleans, then to Vera Cruz by sailing-vessel, then horseback via the City of Mexico to Acapulco; from there by steamer 2,000 miles to San Francisco, where he arrived in April of the same year; he remained in California and engaged in mining until 1854, when he returned via the Nicaragua route, being swamped in Virgin Bay, where he had a narrow escape from drowning, forty of the ninety passengers being lost; he then returned to his farm which he improved until 1859, when he again went to California by the overland route, going by the mail stage from Tipton, Mo., to San Francisco, Cal.,—a distance of 3,000 miles, being made by constant travel day and night, 1,100 miles of which were among hostile Indians; he followed mining in California with fair success until 1861, when he returned to his farm, where he has since lived. His marriage with Martha O. Neal was celebrated June 21, 1863; she is a native of Ohio; they have six children by this union — Rosa L., Henry C., Laurence J., Marietta, Carrie M. and Marcus D. In 1873, Mr. West was elected Supervisor of West Township, which office he has since held with the exception of one year, the last year being elected without opposition. He is largely engaged in feeding cattle, which he buys and ships from Chicago in car-load lots, and, after feeding until ready, re-ships to the Chicago market.