POPE, OBADIAH, well known farmer, postoffice, Buffalo, Sangamon County, Ill., is of German and old American stock and combines the good qualities suggested by that statement. He was born in Jefferson County, Tenn., August 29, 1834, a son of Peter and Sarah (Wilson) Pope, natives respectively of Germany and North Carolina. His father, a farmer, was brought to America by his parents, when he was comparatively young. The family lived in North Carolina for many years, until the father died. After that event Peter went to Tennessee, locating in Jefferson County, where he farmed until his death, which occurred in 1872. His widow died at the home of her son in Sangamon County, Ill., in 1875, aged eighty years. They had three sons and three daughters, all of whom except the subject of this sketch are dead.

Obadiah Pope was educated in Jefferson County, Tenn., in a pioneer school house with log walls, slab benches and greased paper window panes. He worked on his father's farm until he attained his majority, then learned the wagon maker's trade in Morristown, Tenn., and worked at it there until the Civil War began. Then he enlisted as a soldier in an independent company and fought for his country for a short time. Obtaining a discharge, he entered the government service as a carpenter and a maker and repairer of wagons. At the end of the war he resumed farming in Tennessee. In 1872 he came to Sangamon County, Ill., and after operating one farm three years. Removed to another at Lanesville, where he remained thirty years, then retired from active life and took up residence in Buffalo, selling his fine farm of 160 acres. He was Road Commissioner of Lanesville Township and was twice elected Justice of the Peace, winning a reputation as a model official. His religious and political affiliations may be dismissed with the significant statement that he is a Baptist and a Republican.

Mr. Pope married Miss Mary Adams, in Jefferson County, Tenn., May 5, 1855. She was born in Washington County, that State, October 4, 1839, a daughter of Henry and Rhur (Nave) Adams. Her parents were born in Tennessee and her father was a farmer there until his death. The wife also died there. She is one of a family which consisted of two sons and three daughters, all of whom except herself have passed away. Her father was a soldier in the War of 1812. To Mr. and Mrs. Pope were born twelve children, five sons and seven daughters. Peter lives at Dawson, Ill.; Melissa is dead; Henry is dead; Sally is the wife of Albert Ketcham, of Dawson; Samuel, at Dawson; Kate is the wife of Ottis J. Hunter, a Nebraska farmer; Angelina is Mrs. Leonard Scruggins, of Lincoln, Colorado; John at Lanesville, Ill.; Leonard at Riverton; Nellie, wife of Alexander Reynolds, of Rochester; Ida, wife of J. G. Sock, of Eagle, neb.; Grace, wife of Roscoe C. Cox, of Moberly, Mo. Mr. and Mrs. Pope have thirty-two grandchildren and fourteen great grandchildren.