JOHN W. CHENERY , Springfield, Illinois, was born in West Boyalston, Massachusetts, July 28, 1826; son of William D. and Abigall (Partridge) Chenery, who emigrated to Illinois in 1831, and located in Morgan county, near Jacksonville; the following winter, returned to Massachusetts on horseback, via Indiana, when the snow commenced falling, and he, in company with three other gentlemen, going east, made jumpers, and in them made their way home. The following summer he started for his home in the west with his family, traveling in wagons to Albany, thence to Buffalo by canal, crossing the lake to Cleveland, then overland to the Ohio river, thence by boat to Naples, and finally to Jacksonville. Shortly after arriving there he rented the Western Hotel for eight years. In 1852, he came to Springfield, where he rented the old American House, one of the principal hotels of the State at that time, and was the headquarters of all the principal politicians of the State; here they remained until 1855; when the Chenery House was built they entered that, and remained in it until 1881. Mr. Chenery died in October, 1873; his mother died in October, 1880. Mr. C. was widely known, being identified with the hotel business over forty years in the State. The subject of this sketch married Miss Eleanor M. Holihan, and they had five children, four of whom are living, namely: William D., John L., Thadius F., and James E.