ERASTIS HUEY now follows farming on section 17, St. Mary's Township, Hancock County.  The name of Huey is inseparably connected with the history of this community, for the family of our subject came here in early pioneer days, and its members have borne a prominent part in the work of advancement and public improvement.  His parents, John and Matilda (Rice) Huey, were both natives of Boone County, Ky., and came of old southern families, of whom further mention is made in connection with the sketch of William Huey, on another page of this work.  The father was one of twelve children, and was reared as a farmer.  Throughout life he followed agricultural pursuits, and for many years was a leading farmer of this locality.  He came to Illinois in 1833, and after three years spent in Schuyler County, took up his residence in Hancock County, where his remaining days were passed.  All who knew him respected him for his sterling worth and excellencies of character, and his death, which occurred at the age of seventy-two years was deeply mourned by many friends. His wife, a most estimable lady, passed away four years previous, dying at the age of sixty-two.  Of their family of ten sons and two daughters, the following are yet living: Erastus; William; Frances, wife of Dr. James H. Turner, Robert, of McDonough County; Agnes, wife of Reuben Garnett; James, of St. Mary's Township; Perry C. and George, who also live in the same township; and Frederick Gilmore, of Clarke County, Mo.

Our subject was a lad of six summers when, with his parents, he became a resident of this locality. Upon the old Huey farm he was reared, and his entire life has been passed within four miles of his present home.  When a young man he studied medicine, but never engaged in the practice of his profession, preferring to follow the pursuit with which he had been familiar from earliest boyhood. After arriving at years of maturity, he began farming in his own interest, and his well-directed efforts have been crowned with success, for he is now owner of two hundred acres of valuable land, constituting one of the finest farms of the township.

Mr. Huey was joined in wedlock February 1, 1858, with Martha Susan Dale, daughter of Lunsford Dale, a native of Kentucky.  Seven children have been born to them.  Ida is the wife of I. N. Jeffries, by whom she has two children, Ormer and Ray.  Mr. and Mrs. Jeffries make their home with her father.  John R., who married Miss Helen Holbert, by whom he has three children, resides near Colmar, in McDonough County. William E. married Miss Ryle, and is located in Hancock County.  Fannie is the wife of Walter Cannon, and they live on a farm in St. Mary's Township with their daughter Nellie.  Walter and Olivia are yet at home; and one child died in infancy.  The mother died June 10, 1891, in the faith of the Baptist Church, of which she was a member.  Mr. Huey belongs to the same church, as do his brother and three of his children.  In politics, he is a Democrat, but has never been an office-seeker. He came to Hancock County fifty-seven years ago, when it was an unbroken wilderness, and when there were only three houses between his father's home and Carthage.  He has taken a just pride in the growth and development of his adopted county, and by his support and cooperation he has aided in its advancement and upbuilding.

June 15--We regret to announce the death of Mrs. Erastus Huey which occurred at 4 o'clock on the evening of the 10th inst, of typhoid fever.  Mrs. Huey was born in Hancock county in July 1836 and was a daughter of Lewis L. Dale, one of the pioneer settlers of the county.  She was married to Erastus Huey in 1858.  By this marriage she was the mother of six children who survive her, Robert, Edward, Walter, Fannie, Ida and Olivia, all married except Olivia and Walter.

Mrs. Huey had been a member of th St. Marys Baptist church for nearly forty years, and at all times an active energetic friend of the church and a consistant christian woman.  In her death her husband has lost a dutiful and devoted wife, her children a loving and affectionate mother, and the community an excellent neighbor; the church one of its most consistant and zealous members.

A procession half a mile in length followed her remains to the grave at the St. Marys cemetery on the evening of the 11th Rev. Mr. Malcolm preaching a very able funeral discourse on the occasion.