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File contributed to the Fulton County ILGenWeb Project
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Source: The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of Fulton County
Munsell Publishing Co., Chicago, 1908

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The Biography of E. J. BYERLY 

[Surnames: BYERLY, RICHARDSON, THOMAS] 

BYERLY, E. J. 

    
Among the younger representatives of the farming element in Union Twp., Fulton County, few have made more progress in material prosperity since reaching years of maturity than E. J. Byerly. Mr. Byerly was born in Virginia on January 6, 1874, a son of Jacob and Bell (Thomas) Byerly, also natives of Virginia, where the father was engaged in agricultural pursuits, and where they spent their lives. 
    
At the age of seven years Mr. Byerly went to live with his uncle in Iowa, and there received his education in the district schools. He located in Fulton County, in 1892 purchasing a farm on wich he made the necessary improvement and where he has since carried on general farming with uniformly good results. 
    
His marriage took place in Union Township, Fulton County, on March 3, 1897, when he was wedded to Orpha Richardson, who was born in that township, Sept. 11, 1876. Two children have resulted from this union, Alvah and Claudis. 
    
On political issues Mr. Byerly is identified with the Republican party, and is now acting in the capacity of School Director of District No. 210, Union Twp. He is a diligent, thorough and progressive farmer, an exemplary husband and father and his civic obligations are invariably discharged as becomes an intelligent and public-spirited member of the community.