Natives of Jefferson County, Indiana, Abraham W. Green and Milton A. Green2 came to Illinois in 1857, settling in the Mackinaw area of McLean County. They were born January 26, 1842 and December 6, 1843, respectively, the sons of Arthur Green and Mary Wheat,3 who were married in Jefferson County, Indiana October 24, 1839.4

Abraham W. Green remained in the Mackinaw area until 1861 when he removed to Clay County, Illinois, and after farming and teaching for two years and reading medicine, he enlisted in Company F, 136th Ill. Vol. Infantry in the Civil War. He served June - October 1864 as an orderly, then as 1st Sergeant.5

After returning from the war he proceeded to study medicine and attended Rush Medical College in Chicago in 1865-66. He returned to the McLean County area and began business with a capital of 80 cents. He lived with David Crum near Fairview Church for three years, then bought land and began building the village of Potosi, laying it out in 1869.

He married Sophia L. Luce, a native of Ohio, in Clay County, March 15, 1868.6 The 1879 History of McLean County wrote of the doctor�s life at Potosi, �Some 13 years ago Dr. A. W. Green, a recently diplomaed [sic] physician came here looking for a place to practice and soon afterward started a drug store. Dr. Green in addition to his extensive medical practice and general merchandise, takes a lively interest in the religious affairs of the surrounding county. He is an ordained elder of the Christian denomination and preaches almost every Sunday in some locality within a few miles ride of his home. In his daily life and labors, he fully exemplifies the great amount of labor and usefulness an educated and earnest man can accomplish even while attending faithfully to his own secular affairs.� Another reference stated that he had four regular places of appointment as a minister of the Christian denomination.

Dr. and Mrs. Green were parents of two children, Arthur L., born October 6, 1869, and Effie Allene, born February 29, 1872. His wife was driving in the city of Bloomington on July 13, 1878, and the horse became frightened. She was thrown out of the buggy and injured so severely that she died the same day. She was buried at Antioch Cemetery, Martin Township. Antioch was one of the churches where Dr. Green preached. His sister, Marcella, came from Flora, Illinois to �assume responsibility of the family� in August of 1878.7 Later, Dr. Green married Jennie L. Lindley of Indianapolis, Indiana in 1880.

When the railroad was built southeast of Potosi, the new villages of Cropsey, Anchor and Colfax were started in 1880. With the decline of Potosi, Dr. Green left Potosi and built a home in Colfax, and also erected the first two-story building there. It was described as a substantial building with a hall above the store for a public meeting place. This was the general store that Abraham and his brother, Milton, operated until 1887.

Milton A. Green graduated from Eureka College, and then attended Rush Medical College in 1869-70. He went to Louisville, Illinois to practice. While in that area he married Theresa V. Hart, the daughter of Dr. Daniel Hart of Grayville, Clay Co. on August 8, 1872. Two children, Harry and Daisy, were born to the couple and both died in infancy. They were buried at Flora, Illinois. Because of his health, Milton quit doctoring in 1875 and moved to Potosi that year, taking over the management of his brother�s store. A son, Claire, was born in August of 1878. With the decline of Potosi, they also relocated to Colfax.

On March 1, 1880, when the village of Colfax was being started, Mr. Green let a contract for a new house at the corner of Center and North Streets where the Christian church now stands. The family moved into the new residence on May 3; there were only six families in the village. Both Mr. and Mrs. Green were registered pharmacists and Milton worked in his brother�s general store in Colfax.

In 1887, Abraham Green and family removed to Medical Lake,8 Washington in Spokane County. There he continued preaching and practicing medicine. Mrs. Green preceded Abraham in death by several years.9 He died at Medical Lake on November 7, 1917 and was buried in Medical Lake Cemetery.10 The grown children, Arthur of Waterville, Washington had married Josephine �Josie� Ford in August 1891 and they had a son, Arthur Abraham, born November 28, 1892 at Medical Lake and a daughter, Mildred; Allene of Roseburg, Oregon had married Rufus Wood in October 1900.

After Abraham moved to Washington, Milton purchased the drug department and shipped the rest to Washington. Soon the family had their own store with a stock of dry goods, boots and shoes, groceries, drugs and sundries. Claire helped his parents in the store. He graduated from the Northwestern College of Pharmacy in 1899 and married Nellie Gilmore in September 1901.

Mrs. Theresa Green, wife of Milton, died in October 1901 and was buried at Wiley Cemetery, Martin Township. Milton later moved to Spokane, Washington, where he died January 9, 1909. He was returned to Colfax for burial at Wiley Cemetery. Milton had another surviving brother, Zachary T. Green of Los Angeles, Calif, and two sisters, Mrs. Ida Miller and Miss Zella Green of Medical Lake.� Other Green siblings, per various census, show a James12 (born ca 1840-41 in Indiana), Maria L.13 (b. ca 1855 in Illinois), and maybe a John C.14 (b. ca 1859) who was living with Milton�s family in Colfax, and presumably, working as a clerk in the store.

The many friends and neighbors of P. J. Decker were pained to hear of his sudden death Tuesday evening, May 8. Mr. Decker submitted to a surgical operation two years ago and has been in poor health since that time. He was apparently in his usual health on Tuesday and was attending a meeting of the Belle Prairie Mutual Insurance Company, of which he was president, at the home of George Bennett three miles north of Anchor. During the meeting he was seized with a stroke of paralysis, and was later taken to his own home three miles northwest of Anchor, where he died about eight o�clock the same evening. The funeral services will be held this Friday morning at ten o�clock at the residence of the deceased and from there to Fairview church. Mr. Lackland of Brimfield, Ill. And Rev. Ninninum of Cropsey will conduct the services, which will be held under the auspices of the Masonic Lodge of Colfax. The burial will be in the Fairview cemetery.

Phillip Jacob Decker was born Feb. 9, 1836 in Philadelphia, Pa., and came to McLean County, Illinois in 1864. On Christmas Day, 1866, he was married to Mary Austin. To this union were born eleven children, seven sons and four daughters, as follows: Elbert and Charles of Calhoun, Iowa; Mrs. Jennie Noll and Mrs. Aaron Shaw of Anchor; Edna, Maud, Phillip, George, Peter, Walter and Alvin, at home. He also leaves four brothers: John of Compton, Calif.; Louis of Coles Valley, Ore.; Henry of LeMar, Mo.; and William of Bozeman, Mont. All the children were present at the funeral.

Mr. Decker was a leading member and an active member in the Fairview M. E. church, and always took an interest in every movement toward the uplifting of his fellow man. He was a good citizen and neighbor and the community in which he lived so long was made better by his having lived in it. Mr. Decker will be greatly missed in church and other affairs in which he was always wanted to take an active part. He was thrifty and an energetic farmer and was owner of 400 acres of fine farming land, mostly in McLean County, but he never let his business deter him from looking after his church obligations. It is such men as Mr. Decker that the community can ill afford to lose.

John Chapman Austin was the son of Chapman Philip and Sarah (Hannack) Austin. He was born January 1, 1807 near Richmond, Virginia and died March 3, 1879 near Pleasant Hill (a.k.a. Selma), Illinois in Lexington Township, McLean County. He was an early seftler to the Fairview community, before the school, church and Potosi were built. He was buried in the Fairview Cemetery where 25 other relatives rest.

During his early life, John �followed the sea� as a sailor. He married Sallie Fallon in Virginia April 6, 1831, and they had seven children, all born in Virginia:

     (1) David C. born March 27, 1832and died in early youth;
     (2) Thomas W. born Oct. 28, 1833; died Nov. 17, 1919; married Lucy 
         Latimer at Hilliard Station near Columbus, Ohio. They had two 
         sons, Wm. and George, who left no decendents;
     (3) Margaret A. born April 9, 1836 and died Feb. 4, 1917. She 
         married Moses Hart in 1861 in Ohio. They had Charles (Feb. 24, 
         1865 � Aug. 7, 1898), and Madie, born Aug. 16, 1868;
     (4) Sarah E. (Feb. 24, 1838 � Jan. 6, 1917) married John  
         Billingsley, and they had ten children: Henry, Margaret, Will, 
         Jennie, John, Kate, Ollie, Samuel, James, and Clara;
     (5) John H. born April 20, 1840 and died in infancy;
     (6) Robert Lee born June 1, 1843; served in the Civil War and died
         near Bowling Green, Tenn;
     (7) Frances Melissa (Jan. 20, 1846 � Feb. 17, 1870) married Aaron 
         Becker. They had four children: Sarah, twins � Mary and Martha, 
         and John.

     (1) Chapman Philip (July 22, 1848 � March 1, 1929) married Lou 
         Zermen; they had eight children: Eva (Austin) Taylor, Wesley, 
         Elizabeth, Emma, Arthur, Myrtle, Charles, and Blanche. After 
         Lou�s death, he married again to Ida ____ a niece of David 
         Crum. They had three children: Thomas, Maybelle, and Marie;
     (2) Mary Elizabeth (Dec. 28, 1849 May 3, 1923) married Philip Jacob
         Decker Dec. 25, 1866. To them were born thirteen children: twin 
         girls who died in infancy, Charles H., Jennie E., Elbert W., 
         Philip J., Edna, Altha, George C., Peter C., Maude M., Walter 
         B., and Alvin E.;
     (3) James W. born Jan. 6, 1852; he married Ella Barrett; they had 
         seven children: Zachary, Jessie, James Jr, twin boys who died 
         in infancy, Esther, and Florence;
     (4) Laura Ann born April 7, 1854; she married Levi Jones and had 
         two children: Franklin and Lucy. Levi died shortly before 
         Lucy�s birth; Laura married Theodore Smith and had two 
         children: Ella May and Albert;
     (5) Harriet Isabel born March 23, 1857, married Holland Bedell; 
         they had six children: Gertrude, Ella, Jessie, Harland, Stella, 
         and Ethel, twin Ethel died in infancy;
     (6) Henry Wesley born March 23, 1859, married Minnie Self;
     (7) George W. born May 13, 1861; died in his youth;
     (8) Anna Maria (Dec. 2, 1863 � 1897) married William Taylor and had 
         seven children: Rollie, Bert, Bessie, Ethel, Frank, Minnie, and 
         Clarence who died in infancy. Annie died while the children 
         were small and William married a niece of Annie�s, Eva Austin. 
         They had seven children: Cleo, Floyd, Edith, Hazel, William, 
         and twin girls Lois and Louise.

Benjamin Walton, one of the early settlers of this city. For many years he operated a flourmill on the site now occupied by Churchill�s elevator. Here he bought grain and hogs, made flour and was one of the best known business men in this locality. His first mill was built in 1864. This was destroyed by fire several years later and he put up a larger structure.

Mr. Walton was a man of active and aggressive character, a strong advocate of temperance causes, and one of the most progressive business men of this city. He sold his interest here to his brothers, Isaac and J. W. in 1880 and moved to California, where he resided until his death. He is survived by four children: Frank, Mrs. Eva Leak of Compston, Cal., Mrs. Mary Palmer of Long Beach; sister and three brothers living, Mrs. W. K. Stafford, Los Angeles, Cal., Isaac, J. W. of Fairbury, and William, of Ohio.

Charles Walton, the eldest son of Benjamin Walton died of heart failure at Compston about a month previous to his father�s death.

[The Fairbury Blade of February 16, 1912 had the following brief obituary: Mr. Walton found dead in bed at the Walton home on Compton ave west of Willowbrook where he occasionally spent a few days. Native of Pennsylvania, was 84 years old. He went to California in 1881 where he divided home life at Long Beach and Compton. Mrs. Walton died 6 years ago, and soon after divided most of his estate of $75,000 among three children, and announced his decision to devote the balance of it to the cause of temperance.]

There are sections of Illinois which are almost wholly settled by Pennsylvanians, and it is an invariable rule that where such is the case there can be found thrift, intelligence and morality deeply rooted. It is characteristic of the Pennsylvanian that wherever you find him, no matter what his vocation may be, you find him a man of parts. If he is a fanner, he is a good farmer; if he is a stockinan, he excels in that line of business, and if he is both a farmer and stock-raiser, you will find a man who has reduced these kindred callings almost to a science. It is not inappropriate to say that this is illustrated in the person of the subject of this sketch, whose stock farm is located on section 17, Belle Prairie Township.

David S. Crum was born in Huntingdon County, Pa., on the 8th of December 1826, and is the son of Cornelius and Margaret (Gray) Crum, natives of Pennsylvania and Ireland respectively. Cornelius Crum was born on the 22nd of December 1790, and died on the 29th of August, 1850 in the State of Ohio, where he had moved from Pennsylvania in September, 1840; he was a farmer by occupation. The mother was born October 31, 1799, and died in Ohio on the 26th of February 1853. They were married on the 11th of October 1811, in Pennsylvania, and were members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, in which Mr. Crum was Class Leader, Steward and Exhorter for many years. In 1836-37 he was a member of the convention which revised and remodeled the constitution of the State of Pennsylvania, which has ever since been the organic law of that State, and was also a member of the Ohio State Legislature during the years 1845-46. They were the parents of ten children, viz: Mary, Catherine, Margaret R., John B., Samuel D., James S., who died at the age of eight years; David S., William A., Rebecca T. and Sarah S.

David S. Crum spent his boyhood days upon a farm, performing his share of the work during the summer months and attending the district school in winter. While attending school he made the most of his opportunities offered, and received more that an average education. In 1851, at the age of twenty-four years, he was married to Miss Mary A. Walton, and two years thereafter came to the West. She was born in Pennsylvania in 1830, and was the daughter of William and Elizabeth (Gehman) Walton, who were natives of England, and immigrated to this country at an early day. By this marriage five children were born, two of whom died in infancy. The living are: Dwight M., who married Miss Lydia M. VanPaten; Edwin W., who married Miss Sabra VanPaten, and Lina E., Mrs. Peter McDonald. Their mother died in 1860. When Mr. Crum located in this county, in 1853, he entered 480 acres of Government land, of which he sold 120 acres, and he has subsequently purchased 160 acres. In 1862 he married Mrs. Mary M. Morgan, a native of Pennsylvania, and they have had two children: Mira A., Mrs. Lorenzo Alford, and Jennie F., Mrs. George H. Bennett. The second wife died in 1873. Mr. Crum was a third time married, in 1874, to Miss Jane E. Parmenter, a native of Providence, R.I., who came West when but a child.

Mr. Crum and his wife are members of the Methodist Episcopal Church, of which he has been Steward and Class Leader many years. He can truly be said to be one of the pillars of the church, and was one of the principal members instrumental in building Fairview Chapel, which is located on his land. Mr. Crum has met with a large measure of success in his calling. His farm now consists of 520 acres, perfectly drained by the tile system, and on which he has erected an elegant dwelling house. While in no sense a politician, he is a strict partisan of the Republican party, and upon all occasions does what he can to further its interests.

1 Muriel Martens Hoffman, History of Lawndale, Martin, and Anchor
Townships and the Villages of Colfax and Anchor (Fairbury,
Illinois: Cornbelt Press, Inc., 1976), pp. 150-151.
2 His birthplace is given as Kent, Ind. 3 Potosi News, op.cit., Nov. 9, 1878. Dr. Green�s mother visited and
returned home to Flora, Ill.
4 Indiana marriage records.
5 Vance, op.cit., vol. 7, p. 81.
6 Illinois State Archives marriage database
7 Potosi News, op.cit., Aug. 24, 1878.
8 From the website: www.medical-lake.org/history.html. �History of
Medical Lake.� Native Americans believed in the healing properties
of the lake water, boiling the water to extract mineral salts. In
1872, Andrew Lefevre discovered that by bathing in the waters his
arthritis and rheumatism were cured, and named the lake �Lac de
Medicine,� or Medical Lake. Stanley Hallett arrived in 1877; he
profited by marketing soaps, salts, and powders, and developed
the area as people flocked to the lake to experience the healing
powers. From the 1880s to the early part of the century, it was a
flourishing town.
9 Colfax Press, November 22, 1917 obituary.
10 Medical Lake Cemetery transcriptions and records.
11 Cofax Press, January 21, 1909 obituary.
12 Census, Kent, Republican Twp., Jefferson Co., IN, 1850.
13 Census, Lexington Twp., McLean Co., IL, 1860.
14 Census, Colfax, Martin Twp., McLean Co., IL, 1880.
15 Colfax Press, May 11, 1906 obituary.
16 Family information from Edna (Decker) Miller in Sept. 1929.
17 Fairbury Blade, February 9, 1912 obituary.
18 Portrait and Biographical Album of Livingston County, Illinois, 1888, pp. 768-771.