Ford County IL Archives Biographies.....Damon, Oscar May 24, 1835 - 
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Norma Hass http://www.genrecords.net/emailregistry/vols/00013.html#0003021 February 25, 2017, 9:34 pm

Source: History of Ford County, Illinois : from its earliest settlement to 1908, volume 1, pages 348-352
Author: Gardner, Ernest Arthur

Oscar Henry Damon is a retired merchant of Gibson City, enjoying in well 
earned rest the fruits of his former toil. He was born in Hanover, New 
Hampshire, May 24, 1835, his parents being Ebenezer and Chloe A. (Lawrence) 
Damon, the latter a daughter of Joseph Lawrence. The father was born November 
1, 1812, and was a builder in Lawrence, Massachusetts, whence he removed to 
Rutland, La Salle county, Illinois. The family was founded in America by 
Deacon John Damon, who arrived in Reading, Massachusetts, in 1630 and was a 
selectman there. He made his home in that place until his death, which 
occurred in 1708. His descendants are now widely scattered but representatives 
of the family have always remained residents of New England. Ebenezer Damon, 
on removing westward, established his home in LaSalle county, where he 
continued his residence up to the time of his demise in 1870. His widow, long 
surviving him, died in 1890 at Gibson City.

Oscar H. Damon, one of a family of six children, acquired a common-school 
education in Lyndon, Vermont, and in Lawrence, Massachusetts. After putting 
aside his text-books he was employed in a store and factory until twenty years 
of age, when he started in business on his own account, removing westward to 
Rutland, La Salle county. He there opened a dry-goods store in connection with 
his brother and was thus engaged until 1861, when he put aside business and 
personal considerations to espouse the cause of the Union in the Civil war. He 
enlisted in Battery K, Second Illinois Light Artillery, and participated in 
many battles which led up to the final triumph of the Union army, remaining at 
the front until mustered out in 1864 because of physical disability. He 
relates many interesting incidents of military life and is a worthy veteran, 
whose loyalty to his duty was never questioned on the field of battle.

After being mustered out, Mr. Damon served as clerk of the Freedman's bureau 
at Natchez, Mississippi, and following his return to the north was postmaster 
of Rutland, La Salle county. He afterward opened a drug store at Coaticook, in 
the province of Quebec, Canada, where he remained in business for nine years. 
He afterward went to Olympia, Washington, where he continued for a year and a 
half and later went to California and to Chicago. On the 1st of May, 1878, he 
arrived in Gibson City. Soon afterward he purchased five hundred acres of 
land, for which he paid thirty dollars per acre and which is today worth one 
hundred and seventy-five dollars per acre owing to the splendid improvements 
he has placed upon it and the natural rise in value consequent to the 
settlement of the state. His property is divided into three farms, comprising 
five hundred seventeen and a half acres in Dix and Drummer townships, and he 
also owns a half section of land in Pike county, Illinois, and section and a 
half in North Dakota. From his property interests he derives an excellent 
income, which amply supplies him with all of the comforts and some of the 
luxuries of life. He continued actively in his farming operations for a number 
of years and still gives personal supervision to his invested interests. He 
owns one of the finest residences in Gibson City, erected in 1906.

On the 19th of May, 1878, Mr. Damon was married to Mrs. Margaret A. Lott, the 
widow of J. B. Lott, who owned all the land where Gibson City is now located. 
Both Mr. and Mrs. Damon have an extensive acquaintance in the county and 
occupy a very prominent position in social circles, being people of many 
friends. He holds membership in the Presbyterian church, while his wife is a 
member of the Christian church. Mr. Damon is serving as one of the elders and 
treasurer of his church and also a teacher in the Sunday school. He was 
chairman of the building committee at the time of the erection of the new 
house of worship and has taken a most active and helpful interest in all 
departments of the church work. He was also secretary of the County Sunday 
School Association and does all in his power to promote moral training of the 
young recognizing the fact that the early teachings are seldom forgotten, but 
leave an indelible impress upon the young lives. His political allegiance is 
given the republican party and he is recognized as one of its local leaders. 
He served as town clerk for three years, was president of the village board, 
and has twice served as mayor of the city. His official duties have ever been 
discharged with promptness and fidelity, winning him high encomiums and the 
unqualified trust of his fellowmen. He belongs to Lott Post, G. A. R., and 
manifests the same loyalty to his country in days of peace that he displayed 
when upon southern battlefields he followed the old flag to victory. His 
influence is always given on the side of right, progress and improvement and 
his labors have been an element not only in the material development, but in 
the political and moral progress of the community.

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