ABEL, ROSWELL, was born July 23, 1785, on Sharon Mountain, Litchfield county, Conn. Three brothers by the name of Abel came from England about 1750. One of them settled in Connecticut, one in Virginia, and what became of the other is unknown. Jonathan, who settled in Conn., brought up a family of five sons and two daughters. His son David was the father of the subject of this sketch. David Abel, and two of his brothers, William and Andrew, were Revolutionary soldiers. William settled in Canada after the Revolution, and brought up a family there. This branch of the family has lost sight of Andrew. David was born on Sharon mountain, married and lived on the same farm until four children were born, and then moved to Washington county, N. Y., where six children were born. Each brought up families. David Abel presented the gun which he carried through the Revolution, to his son Roswell, with instructions to present it to his son, if he had one, but if not, to a brother's son. He has it yet in his possession, at the home of his son Roswell P., to whom he bequeaths it. The brass breech bears the inscription "Liberty or Death," every letter of which is yet distinct.

Roswell Abel, whose name heads this sketch, was married Oct. 22, 1807, to Betsy Mason. She was born Oct. 22, 1790, at Fort Ann, Washington county, N. Y. Her father, Coomer Mason, was a Revolutionary soldier, also. He had two brothers, Shubal and Hail, who fought at the battle of Benington. Roswell and Betsy Abel had three children, born at Granville, Washington County, N. Y. They moved to Springfield, Ill., arriving July 15, 1836. Of their children--

LIZETTE, was born December 4, 1809, married Oct., 1829, in Essex county, N. Y., to Calvin Peabody. They came to Springfield in 1838. They had five living children, namely: CHARLES P., born Feb. 25, 1837, married April 5 1866, to Jane Cheeseman. They have three children, HARRY, IDELLA L., and MARY. HELEN, born Jan. 28, 1835, married Oct. 24, 1865, to Amos Atwood. They have two children, HELEN M., born Jan. 18, 1867, and EMMA C., born August 14, 1869, and reside near Farmington, Dacotah county, Minnesota. JOHN C., born March 13, 1843, married Feb. 4, 1868, in Enterprise, Mo., to Emily Kinsman. They have four children, BURTON, FRANKLIN, WILLIAM and HARRY, and reside in Brookfield, Mo. SARAH E., born in Sangamon county, married July 11, 1857, to Dr. Orlando Lent. They had one child, CHARLES J. He died Nov. 4, 1874, in his 17th year, and Dr. Lent died while on duty at Paducah, Ky., Military Hospital, in 1863. His widow married T. M. Elliott, and resides near Grantsville, Linn county, Mo. EDWIN R., born Dec. 12, 1844, enlisted Dec. 14, 1863, in Vaughn's Battery 3d Ill. Art. He was married Jan. 24, 1867, in Missouri, to Clara Sockman. They have three children, ORLEY, FRANCIS and TRUDELLA, and reside near Browning, Linn county, Missouri. Calvin Peabody moved from Sangamon county, Illinois, to Linn county, Missouri, in 1865, and died there, Sept. 7, 1870. His widow resides near Browning.

CHLOE E., born April 19, 1812, in New York. Married Nov., 1839, in Springfield, to John Armstrong. See his name.

ROSWELL P., born June 30, 1815, in Washington county, New York; came to Sangamon county, Illinois, with his parents in 1836. Married September 30, 1846, at Greencastle, Pa., to Margaret J. Loose. She was born there, Jan. 22, 1820. They reside at Rochester, Ill.

Roswell Abell and wife have been married more than 69 years. They reside with their son, Roswell P., at Rochester, Sangamon county, Illinois.