Page 934
BRYANT FAY, Berlin, Island Grove township, was born in Springfield, Illinois, April 25, 1848. When about three years of age, his father died. He lived in Springfield with his mother attending the ward schools until twelve years of age, when he struck out for himself. He first worked for John Keltch, in Champaign county. He then returned to Berlin a short time, when he went to Lincoln, Morgan county, Illinois, and worked on a farm for Dr. Joe Sims, and for the Chicago & Alton Railroad some two and a half years, when he came to Island Grove township. He married Nannie Skeen February 17, 1869. She was a daughter of James and Lidia A. (Moore) Skeen, natives of Pennsylvania. Mr. Fay is a member of the Christian Church, and Mrs. F. of the Baptist. They have three children, viz: Elizabeth E., Lidia H., and Ann Eliza Fay.
John Fay, father of Bryant, was born in Ireland, and came to America, when a young man. He enlisted in the Mexican War, where he remained until its close. He died in 1851. His wife, Eliza (Doty) Fay, is a native of Indiana. She and her husband had two children, Bryant and Mary E. Fay, now Mrs. Lercher, who reside at Dawson. He and the mother still resides in Berlin. Bryant Fay has held several local offices of trust in the township; was town clerk tow terms and was elected supervisor of this township April, 1880, and re-elected in 1881. In politics, he is a Democrat, and cast his first vote for Seymour, for President of the United States.