months, while his studies were pursued in the winter seasons. He has worked earnestly and persistently, early developing self-reliance and force of character that have enabled him to surmount all the difficulties and obstacles in his path. He is now the owner of two hundred acres of land, which he is carefully cultivating in order to bring it up to the highest possible state of productiveness, his principal crops being wheat and corn. Cattle and horses and hogs are also raised; and he can accommodate during the winter thirty-five head of cattle and seven horses, having large barns and sheds upon his place.    On the 29th of October, 1897, Mr. Doyle was united in marriage to Miss Elsie Smith, a daughter of George and Mary (Phegley) Smith. She was born in this county, November 9, 1874, and by her marriage has become the mother of four children, namely: Mabel, Eula, Virgil and Euna Doyle.    In his political views Mr. Doyle has always been a democrat, but without aspiration for office, having found his time fully occupied with the management of his business affairs, and his close application and energy constitute the basic elements in his prosperity. He leads an active and busy life; and the sure rewards of labor are his.                                          *--------------*                                          ELMER SMITH    Elmer Smith, devoting his life to general farming, was born June 30, 1878, in Spring Creek township, and it is in this township that he is now carrying on his business interests. He is a son of George and Mary (Phegley) Smith. The father, also a native of Pike county, was a farmer by occupation, following that pursuit in order to provide for his family. He died in Spring Creek township, January 25, 1891, while his wife survived until January 12, 1893. In their family were six children, three sons and three daughters: Elsie, the wife of Warren Doyle, who is represented elsewhere in this work; Melvin, who married Laura Ballenger; Elmer, of this review; Ella, the wife of Alvin Bunn; Clema; and Oscar, who married Verna Bobo.    Elmer Smith, at the usual age, entered the common schools near his father's home, and therein pursued his education. He was also trained to farm labor upon the old homestead. At his father's death he was only thirteen years of age, and was left an orphan at the age of fifteen years. His brother-in-law, Warren Doyle, purchased the interests of the heirs in the old family homestead, and after holding the property for a time, sold it to our subject, who now has sixty acres of land here under a high state of cultivation. He annually harvests good crops of corn and wheat, and he has a well improved property, which he is improving as the years go by, and which in its neat and thrifty appearance indicates the careful supervision of a painstaking owner. His political views accord with republican principles. He is well known in the community where his entire life has been passed and is best liked where best known.                                        *--------------*                                      N. A. THORNTON   N. A. Thornton, an attorney-at-law and police magistrate at Milton, was born in Detroit township, Pike county, December 25, 1839. He is a son of Larkin and Polly (Allen) Thornton, who were among the early settlers of Warren county, Kentucky. The paternal grandparents of Mr. Thornton were Aaron and Sarah (Evans) Thornton, who settled in Warren county, Kentucky, about 1800, and afterward removed to Pike county, Illinois, becoming pioneer residents of this locality. They contributed to the early development and progress of the community, and continued residents of Pike county up to the time of their death. The maternal grandparents of Mr. Thornton were Zachariah and Dinah (Boone) Allen, who became residents of Boone county, Kentucky, when that state was a vast wilderness inhabited mostly by Indians, who were so hostile that the white settlers were obliged to live in block houses and to be constantly alert in order to protect themselves from the invasions of the red men. The grandmother, Dinah Boone Allen, was a niece of the noted hunter and explorer, Daniel Boone, who was the first to visit Kentucky