The Biographical Record 480

Alexander Halsey, residing on section 12, Funks Grove township, where
he owns and operates a farm of one hundred and sixty acres of valuable land, 
comes of an old pioneer family that settled in this county in 1837.  He was
born in Randolph township, Novmber 5, 1842, and is the son of Eli and Nancy
Scott Halsey, the former a native of Virginia, and the latter of Tennessee.

Eli Halsey, however, was twice married, first in Virginia, and with that 
wife he came to DeWitt County, in 1837, but later moved to Funks Grove 
ownership and purchased the farm where our subject now resides.  His wife 
dying here, he later married Nancy Scott.  He died at  his late home in 
Wapella township, DeWitt County, January 19, 1892, at the age of seventy-
six years.  His wife survives him and is yet living on the old home farm, 
an active old lady of seventy-eight years.  

The subject of this sketch was reared on the old farm and educated in the
home school.  He remained with his parents and assisted his father in the
cultivation of the farm until his marriage, October 8, 1864, to Miss Mary 
Jane Davis, who was born in Switzerland County, Indiana, and daughter of 
James L. Davis, a native of the same county and state, who after his 
marriage removed to DeWitt county, Illinois.  By this union were born ten
children, of whom seven are now living:  John C., of Heyworth;  Minnie, at
home;  Arthur, married and farming in DeWitt county;  Arda H., who died 
January 16,1899, at the age of twenty-six years;  Robert Oscar, married and
farming in DeWitt county;  Martin L. who died in 1892, when fourteen years
old;  Owen A., Olive Etta and Anna Jane at home; one died in infancy.  

After marriage Mr. Halsey located on a farm in DeWitt county, Illinois, 
where he continued to reside until 1880 when he sold out and moved to Davis
county Missouri, and located near Gallatin, where he rented a farm for two
years, and then purchased a farm of two hundred acres, on which he lived for
two years.  Realizing that Illinois was yet the best state in which to live, 
he sold his Missouri farm, and in the spring of 1884 returned to Illinois 
and purchased one hundred and sixty acres of land in Funks Grove township, 
and on that farm he resided four years, when he purchased one hundred and 
twenty acres of his present farm, to which he has since added forty acres.

Since moving to the place in 1888, he has built a large and substantial 
residence and good barn, and has made a number of improvement of substantial
character.  In addition to the home place he owns good farm in DeWitt county,
which is occupied by his son Arthur Halsey.  He confines himself to no 
special thing, but engages in general farming and stock-raising, feeding 
annually about two car loads of cattle and quite a number of hogs.  He is 
the owner of two steam threshers and a corn sheller, and during the season 
engages in threshing and shelling, thereby realizing quite a hand sum each 
year.  

Politically, Mr. Halsey is a democrat, in the principals of which party he 
is a thorough believer.  His first presidential vote was cast in 1864 for 
George McClellen, and his last in 1896 for William J Bryan.  He has no 
inclination for public office, but has served several years on the school 
board, and has been clerk of his school district.  He is well known in the 
southern part of McLean ad the northern part of DeWitt counties as a man of 
exemplary habits and worthy of the esteem of all.  
Stories:
Home Page: