Armstead M. Fanley

 

SOURCE: "History of Champaign County, Illinois with Illustrations," 1878

SURNAMES: FANLEY, LIEB, STONEBUMER

ARMSTEAD M. FANLEY - Mr. Fanley, a resident of Somer township since 1857, was born in Fairfield county, Ohio, September 27th, 1830. His father, George FANLEY, was born and raised in Muskingum county, Ohio, and married Mary STONEBUMER, whose ancestors were from Virginia, and among the early settlers of the state. The oldest child by this marriage, was Armstead M. Fanley.

He was raised in Fairfield county, four miles from Lancaster, the county seat. He was married on the 9th of April, 1856, to Sarah Elizabeth LIEB, a native of Fairfield county, whose father was from the state of Pennsylvania, and was seven years of age when he came to Ohio. On her mother's side, Mrs. Fanley's ancestors were from Vermont and Massachusetts, and when they came to Ohio, the county was still thickly inhabited by the Indians. Her mother was born in Washington county, Ohio. Mr. Fanley had previously visited Illinois to look at the country, and in 1857, removed to the state and settled in Somer township, of this county. He first resided on section 29, but in 1860, bought land in section 26, which comprises part of his present farm. Mr. Fanley is one of the old residents of Somer township, and since his coming to the county, has witnessed its rapid improvement and growth. He was raised a Democrat, his father having been a member of that party before him, but when the issue arose between slavery and freedom, he decided to support the Republican party, and in 1860, voted for Abraham Lincoln, for President. Of late years, he has been in sympathy with the movement which has finally culminated in the organization of the National Greenback party, though he has never been an active politician, and has believed in supporting men and principles, rather than party. For seventeen years in succession, he has filled the office of justice of the peace, a fact which speaks well of the estimation in which his judgment is held. He is well informed on agriculture, and is known as a practical and intelligent writer on some branches of that subject.