My Genealogy Hound

HENRY B. FRIDLEY, farmer and stock-raiser; P. O. Delano; born in Crawford Co., Penn., Feb. 25, 1835; his father, John Fridley, was born in Pennsylvania and located in Fulton Co., Ill., in 1836, where he died Sept 5, 1847. His mother’s maiden name was Esther Buck, born in Pennsylvania in 1803, and now lives in Fulton Co., Ill. The subject of this sketch attended school and engaged in farming until 20 years of age, when he was united in marriage with Sarah A. Buck, upon the 11th of Oct., 1855; she was born in Fulton Co., Ill., Sept. 28, 1837; her parents came from Pennsylvania to Fulton Co., Ill., in 1836. Three children were the fruit of this union — Esther M., born April 8, 1858; Charles D., Oct. 7, 1859, and Henry F. P., March 23, 1863. Mr. Fridley engaged in farming in Fulton Co. until the summer of 1867, when he came to McLean Co. and purchased 320 acres of land upon Sec. 25, West Township, upon which he located, and where he has since lived, and which, by his own hard labor, he has brought from its wild prairie condition to its present high state of cultivation. He also owns upwards of 300 acres of land in Texas, valued at $6,000, all of which he, with the united efforts of his wife, has accumulated since their marriage, at which date his capital consisted of $2 in cash and five spring calves. His first crop in McLean Co. was a failure, and he was obliged to run in debt for the feed for his seventy-six head of cattle, twelve horses and some hogs, which he hauled six miles through very deep mud. He cultivates many different kinds of fruit, among which are different kinds of apples, peaches, pears, cherries, grapes, raspberries, gooseberries, currants, blackberries, quinces, plums, etc.