able farm property, from which he annually harvested good crops that found a ready sale on the market. In addition to his capable management on his farming interests he found time and opportunity to serve in public office and filled the position of supervisor of Atlas township for several years. He was also a member of the board of levee commissioners, was school trustee and at the time of his death was road commissioner. He held membership in the Congregational church, to the teachings of which he was most loyal and in the work of which he took an active and helpful part. His life at all times was honorable and upright and he was fair in his dealings with his fellowmen and just in his treatment of those with whom he was associated. Moreover, he possessed a kindly, generous spirit and cordial disposition that won him warm friendships and made him popular with those whom he met. His death occurred at the family home in Atlas township, April 30, 1903, and his remains were interred in the Adams and Dustin cemetery. He was a devoted husband, a kind and indulgent father, and his personal qualities were such that his death was the occasion of deep and widespread regret throughout the entire community. He had lived in the county from pioneer times to the present era of progress and development and had not only witnessed the trend of events but also bore his part in the movements which have resulted beneficially to his part of the county.    Unto Mr. and Mrs. Adams were born nine children, of whom one died unnamed at birth, while the others were Hattie A., Mary E., Clarence A., Fannie, Laura V., George S., Maggie A. and Jennie. Of these all are yet living with the exception of Clarence A. and Jennie, the latter dying July 24, 1865, and the former on the 5th of January, 1875. They, too, were interred in the Adams and Dustin cemetery. Mrs. Adams still resides upon the old farm homestead in Atlas township at the advanced age of seventy-six years and for seventy years she has lived in Pike county, few having arrived here prior to the time when her parents established their home on what was then a wild western frontier. She has led a busy and useful life, has reared a family of children who have done credit to her name and teachings, and is now one of the esteemed and valued pioneer women of the county, held in loving regard by many for her acts of kindliness and many good qualities.                                           ______________                                           ASAHEL DUFF    Asahel Duff, a resident of Spring Creek township, is the owner of two hundred and forty acres of land, his farm being devoted to the production of cereals and fruit. His land is located on section 1 and 12 and two hundred acres have been placed under cultivation. His time and energies are concentrated upon the further improvement and development of the place and he has come to be known as an enterprising agriculturist.    Mr. Duff was born in Detroit township, Pike county, February 10, 1846, and is a son of Asahel and Abigail (Milligan) Duff. Tradition says that the Duff family in America were descended from thirteen Irish brothers, all of whom were in revolt against King George and the English government when living in Ireland. The family name at that time was spelled McDuff. A price was set upon the heads of these brothers by the English crown and therefore they emigrated to America and changed their name to Duff. Before separating after they came to America they agreed to maintain the old Christian names commonly in use in the McDuff family, including John, James, Andrew, Philip, Joseph and Dennis. These names frequently appear among the relatives of this day. The brothers served in the cause of liberty during the Revolutionary war, doing their full share in winning the independence of the thirteen colonies. After the close of the Revolution they separated and settled in different states of the newly formed Union.    Philip Duff, grandfather of our subject, was a native of Kentucky and was a son of one of the original thirteen McDuff brothers who came to the new world. He married a Miss Duncan, and unto them were born eight children, five sons and three daughters, namely: Andrew D., Alfred, John, Hiram, Asahel, Ann, Jane and Lydia Duff.