of land on section 8, of the same township. Upon that place he spent his remaining days, his death occurring in 1864. In his family were two sons and a daughter, Ransom, Christine and Peter. The last named died of smallpox at the time of the mother's death and Christine met death in a runaway accident in 1897 when returning from church.      Ransom Kessinger remained in his native county until the removal of the father to Missouri, and with him he returned to Illinois, continuing upon the old homestead farm in Pearl township until eighteen years of age, when he started out in life on his own account. The occupation to which he was reared he determined to make his life work, and for three years he was in the employ of Jacob Deemer, during which time he supplemented his early education by attending school in the winter months. When twenty-two years of age he made arrangements whereby he was to farm for Henry Peacock and was to receive one-fourth of the crop as his share. He was thus engaged for three years and then with his earnings made purchase of eighty acres in Pearl township, where the old homestead now stands. He continued to cultivate and improve that property until after the outbreak of the Civil war, when he enlisted in Company I, Ninety-ninth Illinois Regiment. He participated in many important military movements, including the battle of Hartsville, Missouri, the siege of Vicksburg and the battles of Black River, Fort Esperanza, Labaca Bayou and Port Gaines. He served for the full term of enlistment and was mustered out at Baton Rouge, Louisiana, being honorably discharged at Springfield, Illinois, August 10, 1865. He immediately returned home, rejoicing over the return of the peace and the preservation of the Union, and throughout all the years he has been as loyal to his country in days of peace as when he followed the stars and stripes upon southern battle-fields. On again reaching home he resumed farming in Pearl township, where he has since made his home, and the large and gratifying success which has come to him has resulted in his well directed labors as a farmer and his judicious investment in property. As his financial resources have increased he has added to his holdings from time to time until he now owns over one thousand acres of valuable land, one-half of which is equal to the richest land in Pearl township. He has about two hundred acres in timber, mostly hardwood -- oak, walnut and hickory -- and constituting a very valuable timber tract.      Before going to the war Mr. Kessinger was married, the lady of his choice being Miss Sarah Jane Peacock, whom he wedded June 10, 1852. She is a daughter of Henry and Nancy (Jackson) Peacock, the former a native of Tennessee and the latter of Kentucky. Mr. Peacock was one of the first settlers of Calhoun county, Illinois, having located there in 1823. There he met and married Miss Jackson. He engaged in farming and, as stated, was connected with Mr. Kessinger in agricultural pursuits. His wife died about four years after their marriage, leaving two little daughters, Sarah J. and Mary C. Peacock. The latter married Thomas S. Long and died in 1898. The paternal grandparents of Mrs. Kessinger were John and Catharine (White) Peacock, who were pioneer residents of Calhoun county, where the latter died in 1851 and the former in 1853, passing away on Painter creek.      Unto Mr. and Mrs. Kessinger have been born ten children: Henry, who married Annie Johnson; Nancy E., the wife of G. W. Smith; Jacob, who married Mary Bogart; Catharine, who became the wife of Dr. Lock and later married James Smith, while her death occurred in South McAlester, Indian Territory, in 1902; Peter, who married Lilly Wagoner, who died in Pearl township in 1888, after which time he wedded Alice Hall, who died in Pearl township in 1901; R. O., who married Susan Johnson; Martha, the wife of William A. Wagoner; John A., who married Emma Wagoner; Elizabeth, who died at the age of three years, and a daughter who died unnamed in infancy. Mr. and Mrs. Kessinger have thirty-nine grandchildren living and seventeen great-grandchildren. They also had eleven grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren who are deceased.      Mr. Kessinger was commander of I. Piper post, G. A. R., in 1885, being chosen to that position at the time of its organization and acting