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JOHN F. VIGAL - The farmers of Cotton Hill Township, have contributed not a little to the general upbuilding of the county. Our subject, a native of the county, though a young man occupies an honorable position among these men and is the proprietor of a farm on section 6, in the township mentioned, which is as well developed and as highly tilled as any in its vicinity. He is a son of Alfred and Diana (Carpenter) Vigal, natives respectively of Indiana and Ohio. The father is a prosperous farmer near Litchfield, Ill. To him and his good wife have been born a family of six children, two sons and four daughters.

John F. is the second child and the eldest son of his parents. He was born here January 30, 1860, and was reared to manhood in Cotton Hill Township, of which he has always been a resident. He was educated in the common schools, and quite early in life adopted agriculture as his life work, he having been bred to that pursuit and having a natural taste for it. He has one hundred and fifty-five acres of choice land, whose fertile soil yields him good harvests and he has here all the improvements which constitute a well-ordered farm. He and his amiable wife have a cozy home and its hospitalities are well-known among their numerous friends. Mr. and Mrs. Vigal (whose maiden name was May M. Matthew,) were wedded in Cotton Hill, Township, January 1, 1888. Mrs. Vigal is a native of that township and was born September 19, 1864.

Mr. Vigal possesses many estimable traits of character, is endowed with activity, persistence and a good capacity for well-directed labor, which will in time place him in the forefront among the leading farmers of his native township. He is keenly alive to the interests of his native place and does all in his power to push all schemes forward that will in any way enhance its growth or elevate its status. He has filled the position of Township Collector two terms and makes a fine civic official. In politics he is a thorough Republican and stands by his party through thick and thin.

Mrs. Vigal's parents are Oscar F. and Margaret (Britton) Matthew, natives respectively of Indiana and Ohio. Mr. Matthew was born January 30, 1824, and Mrs. Matthew was born December 2, 1821. They were married in Cotton Hill Township, and here spent their entire wedded life. The father died in the home that he and his good wife had built up here, February 12, 1882. The mother survives and is a resident of Cotton Hill Township. They had a family of nine children of whom Mrs. Vigal is the youngest; six are now living: Winfield Scott, of California; John B., a physician at Mt. Auburn, Ill.; Rebecca J., widow of Daniel Poffenbarger, of Edinburg, Ill.; Thomas L. of Rochester, Ill.; Nathan L., of Cotton Hill Township, and the wife of our subject.