lands ranging from $5 to $8 per acre in value. He also assisted in organizing the districts of road and school purpose. John Blackmore and son Henry came here in 1849, having previously lived in Danville and Ottawa, Illinois. Asa Blakeslee, Thomas F. Norton, B. F. Norton, Isaac Ames, J. O Corey, Erastus Corey, Ansel Gammon, M. W. Gammon and C. D. Gammon were among the settlers in the years 1852–53. Blakeslee took up a claim on the prairie in the central part of the township where there were no other settlers. He bought 200 head of cattle since there was plenty of empty pastureland. He bought lumber in Ottawa, Illinois that he transported to his claim to build his home and farm buildings. Thomas F. Norton was a native of Maine and settled in the northeastern part of the township. After a short residence in the township, he was elected county surveyor in 1854 and served as township assessor 1858 to 1861. He also served as school treasurer. In 1862, Norton was ordained a minister of the Baptist church. Isaac Ames was also a native of Maine. He served as supervisor in 1861 and 1864, and as collector in 1859. J. O. Corey and his brother Erastus were from Pennsylvania. J. O. Corey had been an officer in the Mexican War. He was the first Supervisor of Sunbury Township, being elected in 1858. He also held the office 1874 to 1876. He moved on to Iowa in 1876. Erastus was a carpenter who came to the area in the employ of the railroad. He later returned to his home state. In 1854, two railroads, the Chicago & Alton and the Illinois Central, were completed through central Illinois. This opened the area to immigrants and also to the laborers who had worked on the railroad line construction. Anderson Corbin and Oliver Corbin arrived in April 1855 from Virginia. For several years they were the village blacksmiths. John Gower and his son Bailey A. Gower arrived from LaSalle County about 1856. They were natives of Maine. The former was supervisor in 1859, 1860 and 1863, and the latter during the years of 1866 and 1869. Erastus Thatcher and H. H. Brower also arrived in 1855. Brower was a lawyer and practiced in the courts of the county. He served as supervisor during the years 1862 and 1868. At the first election