My Genealogy Hound

HON. MALON BISHOP, farmer and stock-raiser, Sec. 15 ; P. O. Le Roy; born in Clark Co., Ohio, Dec. 25, 1810, where he assisted his father in farming until 20 years of age, when he rented land and engaged in farming three years for himself until the fall of 1834, when he took with him his wife and child, his team and household goods, six sheep and two cows, and drove to McLean Co., Ill.; upon his arrival, he purchased a claim upon which there were ten acres broken, and an old log cabin without chimney, a puncheon floor, clapboard door hung with hickory bark; and in this cabin he lived for six years, when he erected what is now used as a kitchen to his present residence, which was erected in 1842 ; he entered his first 160 acres of State land upon Jan. 12, 1835; he frequently made trips with his team to Chicago, taking up grain which he exchanged for goods, the trip consuming from eleven to fourteen days. Mr. Bishop has taken a deep interest in the cause of religion and education, having filled different offices in the school district, and has been an active member of the M. E. Church since February, 1842, Mrs. Bishop becoming a member of the same the following September. He held the office of Justice of the Peace from 1837 to 1839, and Township Supervisor two years during the war; he was elected to the State Legislature in 1842, and served during the winter of 1842 and 1843. His marriage with Catharine J. Foley, was celebrated March 23, 1831; she was born in Ohio, Aug. 20, 1812; eight children were the fruits of this union, viz.: Nancy Jane, born May 1, 1832, now Mrs. Mark M. Craig, of West Township; Stephen L., born Jan. 14, 1835; James F., born Dec. 6, 1836, died Aug. 6, 1862; Elias, born Jan. 12, 1839, died March 11, 1864; Catharine, born April 4, 1842, now Mrs. William Hammond, of West Township; Elizabeth, born June 22, 1845, died Aug. 24, 1869; Sarah A., born April 1, 1848, died in infancy; Malon, born June 13, 1849; the last-named lives at home; he was married Jan. 30, 1878, to Emeline Smith; she was born in Ohio, Oct. 30, 1860, and is the daughter of Wesley Smith, formerly of Newark, Ohio.