GEORGE H. WIER of Birmingham township, was born here September 16, 1841. He is the son of Samuel and Sarah (Clampet) Wier. Mr. Samuel Wier is a native of North Carolina, a farmer, and came to Illinois in the fall of 1835 and settled where the subject now lives, and bought eighty acres and later purchased more, leaving 160 acres at his death. He made the trip with his wife and child, with one horse and wagon. He first built a log house 16 x 18 feet and remained in it until his present house was built in 1869. In politics he was an old-line Whig and was a minister of the Methodist Episcopal Church. He continued preaching occasionally until his death in 1865. His wife was born in North Carolina and died where our subject now lives, in middle life. George Wier remained home until his marriage, when he rented part of his father's farm and after the latter's death he bought the land and now owns 365 acres. He is a thoroughly self-made man, politically a Republican and a highly valued church member for eighteen years. He was married for the first time in 1863, to Martha Wells, who died a year later, leaving one child which also died. In 1870 he was again married, to Mary McPherson. She was a native of Morgan county, Illinois, born in 1847, daughter of Benjamin F. and Harriet (Thompson) McPherson. Her father is still living, but her mother died here, aged forty-five. They were pioneers of Illinois. Mr. Wier has five children, namely: Harriet L., William A., Edwin R., Samuel B., and Harrison R.