SOURCE: "Portrait and Biographical Album of Champaign County, Illinois," Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1887
SURNAMES: DUFF, FLETCHER, KRETSINGER, LAYMAN, MCCLURE, PENNEY

ISAAC LAYMAN, of Condit Township, is a native of Union County, Ohio, and was born Aug. 31, 1840. He is the son of Henry and Elizabeth (KRETSINGER) LAYMAN, who are mentioned in the sketch of Lewis LAYMAN, elsewhere in this volume, and was but an infant when his parents removed from his native State to Indiana. A few years later they came overland to Illinois, in which manner they had also traveled from Ohio to Indiana, and the father purchased forty acres of land in Logan County, in which he was one of the earliest settlers. Our subject remained under the parental roof until 1862, then enlisted as a Union soldier in Co. D, 85th Ill. Vol. Inf., and served until the close of the war, participating in many of its important battles, and receiving a wound in the left arm and shoulder. He remained with his comrades, however, and with them was mustered out at the close of the struggle, and returning to Illinois resumed farming in Logan County.

Mr. Layman came to this county in 1869, and purchased a quarter section of wild land, which is included in his present farm. It is now all enclosed with fences and other improvements, including a convenient and substantial dwelling, ample sheds for the shelter of stock and all other necessary buildings. The soil, under his wise manipulation, has become exceedingly fertile, and yields in abundance the fine crops of the Prairie State.

Our subject, in 1867, was united in marriage with Miss Bessie FLETCHER, a native of England, and the daughter of Joseph and Naomi FLETCHER. Of this union there were born three children, namely, Joseph, Charles and William. Mrs. Layman departed this life in 1873. Our subject was married the second time, march 27, 1878, to Miss Martha J. PENNEY, a native of Sangamon County, and the daughter of William G. PENNEY, who was born in Virginia, and died in the service at Little Rock, Ark., in May, 1864. His wife, in her girlhood, was Miss Eleanor R. DUFF, a native of Kentucky, and the daughter of Ebenezer and Sarah (MCCLURE) DUFF, natives respectively of Virginia and Kentucky. Mrs. Duff died in Logan County, this State, in 1868. Mr. and Mrs. Layman have five children, namely, Bruce, Pearl, Chester, Carrie and a babe, unnamed. They are members in good standing of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and Mr. Layman politically, is a decided Republican.