AMBROSE BOWEN CASS was born February 11, 1811, in Clark county, Kentucky, and is the son of Robert and Mary (Boggs) Cass. He came to Sangamon county with his parents and a brother, Ninian R., and a sister, Lucy Ann, 1826, arriving in Buffalo Hart Grove, October 2d of that year and on January 17, 1830, was married to Melinda Burns, a daughter of Thomas and Elizabeth (Ridgeway) Burns. They had eleven children, eight of whom are now living, as follows: Elizabeth, born November 14, 1830, married Michael Finfrock, November 8, 1849, and are now living in Waynesville, DeWitt county, Illinois. They have seven children, viz: Bowen, Helen, Charles, Paul, Irving, Willis, and Ernest. Mary C., born May 8, 1833, married to B. F. Edwards, March 31, 1858, (see his name); Lucy A., born August 31, 1835, married to Dr. Leslie Gillette, April 20, 1859. They have three children, Leslie, Fanny and Georgiana, and reside in Buffalo. Louis, born March 10, 1838, married to Christina Lawson, December 24, 1862. They have three children living, four deceased, Clarence, Arthur and Fred. Amos, born March 4, 1838, died April 4, 1840; Albert born March 4, 1841, died August 28, 1842; Paulina, born October 4, 1843, married to Albert Shrieve, October 13, 1864, live in Logan county; Hardin, born September 16, 1845, married to Harriet N. Landis, October 10, 1866, have three children, Phil, Louis B. and Mable. They live in Otto county, Nebraska; Scott, born November 20, 1847, married Sarah Jones, June 18, 1874; she died November 3, 1878; one child living, Gracie, born June 18, 1875; Marion, born April 12, 1850, married Catharine Shrimp, March 31, 1875; have two children, Hattie and William; live at old homestead. Harry, born February 3, 1854, married Catharine Cole, September 14, 1878; have one child, Bowen; live at old homestead. The land owned by Mr. Cass was entered by himself, R. E. Burns, Robert Cass, Mr. Price and others. He has about eight hundred and sixty acres in this township, all under cultivation. A branch of the Illinois Central Railroad passes through the farm. Mr. Cass was in the Black Hawk war. He and John R. Burns are the only survivors who participated in that war now in Buffalo township. Mr. Cass is of English descent; his grandfather came from there and settled in North Carolina where A. B. Cass' father was born; his mother was a native of Virginia; they moved to Kentucky in 1793, and remained there till 1826. The family are among the earliest settlers in Sangamon county.