Alfred Cartmill
Alfred Cartmill, farmer. P. O. Big Plain, was born in Franklin County, Ohio, February 9, 1819, and is a son of William and Isabel Cartmill, natives of Virginia, who, when quite young, with their parents emigrated to Kentucky among the early settlers of thai State, when they had to be protected in block-houses from the savages. Under those trying ordeals, they grew to maturity, were married, and, about 1813, in the spring, removed to Ohio and located on the Darby, near Georgesville, in Franklin County. About 1824 or 1825, they removed to Madison County and settled on land now owned by Elijah Chenoweth, where they remained through life and where Mrs. Cartmill died, after which Mr. Cartmill made his home with his children till his death in November, 1875, in his ninety-seventh year. They had five sons and two daughters, of whom six now survive: Thomas; Fidelia, wife of M. Y. Patrick; John C, Alfred, William F., and Margaret, wife of Daniel Rhodabaugh. The subject of this sketch was raised and grew to manhood in Madison County, and at nineteen years of age commenced teaching school, which occupation he followed about nineteen years, when he purchased a tract of land just below where he now lives and entered upon farming which he has since followed. Mr. Cartmill has been twice married; first to Catharine Keller, a daughter of Peter and Rebecca Keller, natives of Pennsylvania; this union was of but brief duration, as in the fall of 1861 she died. On February 22, 1865, he was married to Mrs. Margaret Freeman, who was born in Franklin County, Ohio, September 9, 1837, and was a daughter of Reuben and Emza Chaffin, natives of Pennsylvania. By her he has had eight children, six now surviving: Grace, born May 31, 1867: Clyde, born November 20, 1868; Marcia, born March 1, 1872; Gale Forest, born April 8, 1874; M. Dell, bom April 5, 1877, and Alfred Pearl, born December 14, 1881. Since the first tract of land which Mr. Cartmill bought, he has added more by purchase till he now owns 400 acres of good land. In 1880, he erected a large brick house and has made various improvements in buildings, ditching and draining, till he now has an excellent farm and a fine home. He never desired public office, although he has served as Township Clerk and a Justice of the Peace. He commenced in life without means, and by his own industry has acquired a comfortable competency, and is now one of the prominent farmers of Fairfield Township.
From History of Madison County - W. H. Beers [Chicago, 1883]