om the beginning the fit abode for men and women of God's
highest type--and such, indeed, were the pioneers. Their early
struggles, their sacrifices, all they suffered and endured, can
never be fully disclosed. But to them this was truly 'the promised
land'--a land they might not only view, but possess. From New
England, Ohio, the 'Keystone,' and the 'Empire' State, from the
beautiful valley of the Shenandoah and the Commonwealths lying
westward and to the south, came the men and women whose early homes
were near the banks of the little streams and nestled in the shades
of the majestic groves. Here they suffered the hardships and
endured the privations that only the frontiersman might know. Here
beneath humble roofs, their children were born and reared, and here
from hearts that knew no guile ascended the incense of thanksgiving
and praise. The early settlers, the pioneers, the men who laid
the foundations of what our eyes now behold, builded wisely and
well. Their descendants to-day are in large measure the beneficiaries
of all that they so wisely planned, so patiently endured. These
names and something of what they achieved will go down in our annals
to the after times. Peace to their ashes; to their memory all
honor! They were the advance guard--The builders--and faithfully and
well they served their race and time. Upon nobler men and women
the sun in all his course hath nowhere looked down.

"And where upon God's footstool can domain more magnificent than
this good county be found; one better adapted to the habitation of
civilized man? The untrodden prairies of three-quarters of a
century ago, as if touched by the wand of magic, have become splendid
farms. And groves more beautiful the eye of man hath not seen.

"Containing a population of less than two thousand at the time
of its organization, there are more than seventy thousand souls
within the bounds of this good county to-day. The log cabin has
given way to the comfortable home. The value of farm lands and
their products have increased beyond human forecast or dream.
As shown by the last Governmental report, McLean County contains
four thousand eight hundred and seventy-three farms, aggregating
seven hundred thirty-seven thousand five hundred and seventy-eight
acres. The corn product for the year 1899 exceeded fifteen millions
of bushels, being near one-twentieth of that of the entire State.
In the value of its agricultural products it is thir