Biography - RHULIFF DEY

Rhuliff Dey, a substantial, retired farmer of Hilyard township, Macoupin County, and a member of an old pioneer family of the State, was born February 18, 1841, in Jerseyville, Jersey County, Illinois, where he lived until 1854. He is a son of Cornelius and Katherine (Rogers) Dey.

Enoch Dey, the grandfather of our subject spent his whole life in New Jersey. He reared a family of seven children, of whom Cornelius was the oldest.

Cornelius Dey was born August 9, 1817, in Middlesex County, New Jersey, and was reared on his father's farm and attended the local schools. He married Katherine Rogers, daughter of William and Ann Rogers, also of New Jersey, who came to Illinois in 1839, accompanied by Cornelius Dey and wife, and located in Jersey County. Mr. Dey also entered land in Sangamon County. In 1854, he removed to Macoupin County and settled in Hilyard township, where he lived until his death in 1874. He left a farm of 160 acres which is now owned by our subject. Mr. and Mrs. Dey had a family of five children, two of whom died in infancy, the others being: William H., who died at Carlinville, in 1891, aged 58 years; Rhuliff, of this sketch; and Mrs. Mary Jane Ferguson, of Staunton, Macoupin County. The parents were members of the Presbyterian Church.

Rhuliff Dey was educated in the schools of Jersey and Macoupin counties and adopted farming as his vocation. He has been very successful in his agricultural operations, paying attention to general farming and the raising of Shorthorn cattle. He owns 520 acres in sections 23 and 24, Hilyard township, and 30 acres of timber in Gillespie township. He no longer is actively engaged, his sons now very successfully managing the property for him.

Mr. Dey was married January 2, 1867, to Katherine M. Snedeker, who was born October 13, 1845, in Champaign County, Ohio, and is a daughter of Jacob and Ellen (Jay) Snedeker, who came to Illinois from Ohio in 1850. The five children of this union are: Charles Rhulifif, operating one of his father's farms, who has four children — Franklin H., Velma K., C. Edgar and Walter K.; Orville A., occupying a second of our subject's farms who has two children — Lola J. and Florence G.; Nellie C., who married R. H. Isaacs, cashier of the Bank of Gillespie, and has two children — Harold and Franklin; and Frank and Hattie Leona, who live at home.

Mr. Dey is a Republican in his political faith, and he has been called upon at various times to show his zeal for his party, his standing as a man of wealth and integrity making his influence very strong. For 15 years he has served as school director, three terms as school trustee, and has also been highway commissioner. With his family he belongs to the Methodist Church.

Our esteemed subject is a member of the local Grand Army post, having served for five months during the Civil War as a member of Company G., 133rd Reg., Illinois Vol. Inf. His commanding officer was Colonel Phillips and his duty was the guarding of prisoners at Rock Island in 1864.

Extracted 2018 May 08 by Norma Hass from Biographical Sketches of Leading Citizens of Macoupin County, Illinois, published in 1904, pages 533-534.