He is a native of the grand old state of Virginia. He was born in Washington County, November 12, 1832, to the union of Adam M. and Susan H. (Stinson) Tool. In 1837, when John was but five years of age, his parents moved to Coles County, Ill., where they resided for five years, and then came to the Hawkeye State, settling west of Fairfield and near the Indian boundary line. John was but eleven years of age when his parents penetrated the wilderness of Jasper County, and from that time until the present he has resided here. The incidents in his early life were not materially different from those of other boys living on farms in the new country. He was taught to work at anything necessary for him to do, and to make himself useful around the pioneer homestead. As did other boys, young Tool attended school during the winters, and in summer assisted in clearing the land, fencing the fields and raising crops after the land was improved. Although his educational advantages were not of the best, he was a thorough student, and by close attention he mastered all the important branches. In early life he engaged in farming-and trading in stock, and for a time was also engaged in merchandising. The members of the Tool family as far back as we have any knowledge were Methodists, and our subject is no exception to the rule. In 1870 he was ordained to preach in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and since that time has been a local preacher. In 1879 he was nominated for the Legislature, getting one hundred and nineteen votes out of one hundred and twenty-two cast, and served in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth General Assemblies. Oh the 19th of January, 1854, be married Miss Jane Paul, the daughter of the Rev. Joseph Paul, a Methodist Episcopal preacher. She was a native of the Hoosier State. Mr. Toll was a man of broad views, who had traveled extensively, and who was well informed. He did much to benefit his fellow-man.

He is a native of the grand old state of Virginia. He was born in Washington County, November 12, 1832, to the union of Adam M. and Susan H. (Stinson) Tool. In 1837, when John was but five years of age, his parents moved to Coles County, Ill., where they resided for five years, and then came to the Hawkeye State, settling west of Fairfield and near the Indian boundary line. John was but eleven years of age when his parents penetrated the wilderness of Jasper County, and from that time until the present he has resided here. The incidents in his early life were not materially different from those of other boys living on farms in the new country. He was taught to work at anything necessary for him to do, and to make himself useful around the pioneer homestead. As did other boys, young Tool attended school during the winters, and in summer assisted in clearing the land, fencing the fields and raising crops after the land was improved. Although his educational advantages were not of the best, he was a thorough student, and by close attention he mastered all the important branches. In early life he engaged in farming-and trading in stock, and for a time was also engaged in merchandising. The members of the Tool family as far back as we have any knowledge were Methodists, and our subject is no exception to the rule. In 1870 he was ordained to preach in the Methodist Episcopal Church, and since that time has been a local preacher. In 1879 he was nominated for the Legislature, getting one hundred and nineteen votes out of one hundred and twenty-two cast, and served in the Eighteenth and Nineteenth General Assemblies. Oh the 19th of January, 1854, be married Miss Jane Paul, the daughter of the Rev. Joseph Paul, a Methodist Episcopal preacher. She was a native of the Hoosier State. Mr. Toll was a man of broad views, who had traveled extensively, and who was well informed. He did much to benefit his fellow-man.