Fairbury is a small town located in Central Illinois. It is 100 miles south of Chicago and 60 miles east of Peoria. It was founded in 1857 when the railroad first crossed Central Illinois. This short story excerpts the biographies of 116 Fairbury area citizens from the 1888 book Portrait and Biographical Album of Livingston County, Illinois by Chapman Bros. These colorful biographies tell the story of the early pioneers who settled Central Illinois. They converted the swampy prairie into some of the most productive farms on the planet. If you are interested in early Fairbury area history, this short story will help you understand the pioneers who settled this area.