HUCKELBERRY, ELI L., an honored veteran of the Civil War, now living retired from active life at Illiopolis, Ill., is a native of Clark County, Ind., born April 7, 1828, son of Henry Huckelberry and wife, both of whom were born in Pennsylvania. The father was an early settler of Clark County, where he carried on farming for years. Later he came to Illinois and located ten miles east of Springfield, where he entered 340 acres of land from the Government and lived on it the remainder of his life, dying in 1860 and being survived ten years by his widow. Of their ten children Eli L. is the only survivor. Henry Huckelberry killed the last Indian left on the battlefield of Tippecanoe, and was a soldier in the Black Hawk war two decades later.

As a boy Eli L. Huckelberry attended the district school, which was held in a primitive log building, furnished with slab benches and desks, and later worked on his father's farm until the outbreak of the Civil War. He enlisted August 6, 1862, in Company A, Seventy-third Illinois Volunteer Infantry, and on account of disability was discharged November 25 of the same year. He is a valued member of the local post of the G.A.R. After his discharge Mr. Huckelberry returned to Sangamon County, and for many years has been a resident of Illiopolis. He is a member of the Methodist Church, and is much interested in all public movements. In politics he is a Republican.

Mr. Huckelberry was married (first), near Mechanicsburg, in September, 1855, to Emily H. Derry, a native of Virginia, where her father conducted a farm until his death. The mother came to Sangamon County and spent her remaining days with Mrs. Huckelberry. Seven children were born of this union, of whom two now survive; Samuel L., of Springfield, and Hattie, M., wife of Edward S. Albertson, of Chicago. Mrs. Huckelberry died in 1882. Mr. Huckelberry was married (second) in Springfield, in April, 1884, to Elizabeth F. McDaniel, whose parents were early settlers of Sangamon County, where her birth occurred, and both died on their farm there. Two children were born of this union, one deceased, and the other, Carrie, married Archie Bean and lives in northern Illinois. Mr. Huckelberry is much respected in his community, where he is well known, and has many friends. He owns a home in the village.