My Genealogy Hound

NATHAN T. BRITTIN, farmer, deceased; Sec. 4; one of the early pioneers of Illinois. The subject of this sketch was born in Ohio Oct. 18, 1809; he was raised upon a farm until 20 years of age, when he emigrated to Illinois and located upon Sec. 1, Empire Township, McLean Co., Ill., in the year 1829; here he laid a claim which he entered, when the land came into market, and upon which he improved, and afterwards added by purchase, until he had accumulated upwards of one thousand acres of land; his first house was a log cabin, with stick chimney, plastered with mud, raccoon bedstead, with one leg, in which poles were inserted, extending to the end and side logs of the house; his first cupboard and table was a dry goods box, from which they ate their food and placed their dishes and provisions. Mr. Brittin commenced in life without means, but by his hard labor and economy, he accumulated a good property at the time of his decease, owning upwards of one thousand acres of land, and holding upwards of $50,000 in securities, which occurred Oct. 10, 1869. Mrs. Brittin was born in Warren Co., Ky., near Bowling Green, Feb. 16, 1816; her maiden name was Sarah Barnett; she died Aug. 7, 1878, in Empire Township; Nathan T. and Sarah (Barnett) Britten were the parents of nine children, all of whom lived to grow up and become the heads of families. W. P. Conaway was born in McLean Co., Ill., Feb. 18, 1839; his father, Chalton D., emigrated to Illinois and located in McLean Co. about the year 1830, where he lived until 1856, when he removed to Logan Co., where he died two years later. W. P. Conaway was brought up to farm labor until Aug. 10, 1862, when he enlisted in the 94th Regt. I. V. I., and served in the Union army three years, being in the campaign of Missouri and Arkansas, and was also engaged in the States of Mississippi, Louisiana, Texas and Alabama; he was in many engagements, among which were Prairie Grove, siege and capture of Vicksburg, Morganzia Yazoo, Fort Morgan and Spanish Fort, Mobile Bay; in the summer of 1865, he was sent to Galveston, Tex., where he was mustered out of service July 17; he received his discharge in Springfield, Ill., in August, 1865; he then returned to Empire Township, where he has since followed farming. His marriage with Katuriah Brittin was celebrated Nov. 21, 1861; they have two children by this union—having lost two by death; the living are Nora May, born Feb 11, 1870, and Banton G., born Aug. 9, 1871.