ance, indicating her supervision to be of both a practical and progressive nature. She employs a good foreman who attends to the work of the fields and the care of the stock, of which she raises considerable, finding this a profitable source of income. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Bagby was born a son, George Forrest Bagby, and by her former marriage Mrs. Bagby had a daughter, Lila Cannon. Mr. Bagby was a strong republican, but never cared for office, his time and attention being devoted to his farm and business. He was reared in the faith of the Methodist Episcopal church and although he did not become a member of the denomination he displayed in his life many sterling traits of character, being a reliable as well as conscientious business man, thoroughly honest in all of his dealings. He was also loyal and progressive in citizenship and in his home was a devoted husband and father. He belonged to the Knights of Pythias lodge of Pittsfield and to the Modern Woodmen camp. Mrs. Bagby is a member of the Christian church at Time and has many warm friends in the community where she lives, the hospitality of her home being greatly enjoyed by those who know her. WILLIAM RILEY WILLSEY William Riley Willsey is a representative of a prominent pioneer family and his record has been cast in harmony with that of others of the name, who has always been classed with the leading and worthy citizens of this portion of the state. He was born July 29, 1853, in Pittsfield, near his present home and is a son of James Gallett and Melinda (Rogers) Willsey. The father was born in Tompkins county, New York, February 28, 1830, and was a son of Barnett and Cornelia (Kiser) Willsey, both of whom were natives of the Empire state. In the year 1837 the grandparents removed from New York to Ohio and in 1840 came to Illinois, their destination being Griggsville township. There the grandfather began husking corn receiving every fifth load as his wage. He was employed upon different farms and as soon as he had saved a little money he purchased a cow. Not long afterward he traded a team for eighty acres of land in Pittsfield township near where his son James G. Willsey now resides, but there were no settlers in the neighborhood at that time. There was some timber on the land and the uninhabited condition of the country is indicated by the fact that there were many deer and wolves in the district. Mr. Willsey first built a cabin and in a few years erected a frame house, hauling the lumber on a cart drawn by oxen. With characteristic energy he began placing his land under cultivation and in due course of time well cultivated fields were returning to him golden harvests. He remained upon the old homestead up to the time of his death, which occurred January 31, 1859, and he was one of the leading and typical pioneer residents of the community. He owned four hundred acres of land and was considered one of the substantial citizens of that day. He was also prominent and influential in public affairs, did much to mold thought and action in his community and was called by his fellow townsmen to the office of county commissioner and school director. His political support was given to the democratic party. In his family were ten children, of whom two sons and two daughters are now living. His wife died January 10, 1889, when about eighty-five years of age. James Gallett Willsey, the only representative of the family of that generation now in Pike county, attended the common schools, but his educational privileges were very limited. He began earning his own living when only ten years of age and he has always worked hard. It was his labor that brought a capital sufficient to enable him to purchase one hundred and sixty acres of land where he now lives. He became owner of this property about 1855 and it has since remained in his possession. He cleared the land, placed all of the improvements upon the farm, now has fine buildings and in fact his property is one of the desirable farms of this portion of the county. He has two hundred and forty acres, having added to the original tract, and gives personal supervision to the work of the farm, the fields having been brought to a high state of cul-