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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 Daniel L. EASLEY 

[Surnames: CADWALLADER, DAVID, EASLEY, FITZHENRY, KINSEY, LEE, MENDENHALL, ROBINSON, THOMPSON] 

EASLEY, DANIEL L. 

    
An honorable citizen and retired farmer, Daniel L. Easley of Ipava, IL, was born in Harrison Co., OH, Sept. 27, 1831, the son of John and Nancy (Kinsey) Easley, his father being a native of Halifax Co., VA, and his mother of the Buckeye State. 
    
The grandfather, Daniel Easley, was a member of the substantial farmers of the Old Dominion, and on leaving there to migrate with his family to Ohio, sold his farm to the father of Robert E. Lee. At that time, John Easley, the father of Daniel L., was a boy of 12 years, the family which then settled in Harrison Co., OH, being among the first to locate in that section of that State. There Daniel Easley died, and John, who had been reared to agricultural pursuits, came to Fulton Co., in May, 1832. 
    
When John Easley located in Fulton County he entered 160 acres where the village of Ipava now stands, laying out the site east of the present location of the Woolen Mills. He donated to the village the ground for the public school, and two parks for the Presbyterian Church. He and his cousin, William David, built a mill for the manufacture of flax-seed oil, which was afterward converted into a cording mill, and finally developed into the Ipava Woolen Mill. John Easley was also instrumental in founding the first flour mill at Ipava. This locality remained his home from 1832 until his death on Jan. 25, 1873. He was a Quaker, kind, generous, and helpful. His good wife survived him until Mar. 22, 1878, and of their 11 children, seven survive: Rhoda, widow of Reese Cadwallader, of Cherokee Co. Kansas; Sarah, wife of F. C. Robinson; Daniel L.; Phoebe FitzHenry, a widow, resides near Lewistown; Elizabeth of Belleview, NE;, and John R. a resident of Armond, Florida--the last named was a soldier in the War of the Rebellion, serving for 3 years in Co. H. 28th Regt., Illinois Volunteer Infantry. 
    
Daniel L. Easley spent his early life upon a farm and obtained his education in the common schools. At the outbreak of the Civil War he enlisted in Co. B, 84th Regt. of Illinois Volunteer Infantry, serving from Aug., 1862 until the conclusion of the hostilities. He was with Thomas and Sherman and participated in all the weary marches and fierce engagements (except Stone River), of the KY and TN campaigns, and the March to the Sea. He was honorably discharged at Springfield, IL, and returned to the farm, June of 1865. In Aug 1873 he removed to Kansas, but in 1886 relocated to Ipava which has since been his home. 
    
On Mar 15, 1855, he married Mary J. Thompson, also a native of Harrison Co., OH, who came with her parents to Ipava in 1850. Providence vouchsafed to them the celebration of their Golden Wedding. 
    
Mr. and Mrs. Easley are both members of the Presbyterian Church, Mr. Easley's fraternity is confined to the G.A.R. He is a stalwart Republican. 
    
Barrak Thompson, a native of Harrison Co., OH, and Elizabeth Mendenhall, his wife, also a native of that state, left the county when their daughter was 3 years old and moved to Morgan Co. and located on a farm there. On April 1, 1850 they came to Fulton County and located in Vermont in the fall and settled on a farm 4 miles from that place. They later moved to Bernadotte Twp. where the father died Nov. 24, 1873 at age 65yrs, 2 months, and 25 days, the mother passing away Dec. 1, 1852, aged 38 years, 4 months, and 2 days. Mrs. Easley was one of a family of 11 children, five of her brothers being all who are living. 
    
Her father was a Republican and member of the Presbyterian Church, but was of old Quaker stock and belief. Her brother Isaac was Deputy Sheriff of Fulton Co. for 20 years and School Director for 12 years.