Ransom Kessinger, a native of Scott county, IL., was born Sept. 3, 1830, and a son of Solomon Kessinger, deceased, well known in the pioneer days of Scott county. He was a native of KY. And came to Jacksonville in 1825, when there was but one house in that city; came to this county with his family in 1844 and settled in Pearl tp., where he resided until his death, which occurred Feb. 10, 1862. Our subject was raised on a farm and received a common-school education; served 3 years in the late war in Co. I, 99th Reg. I.V.I., and was in the following battles: Hartsville, MO., siege of Vicksburg, Champion Hills, Black River Bridge, Matagorda, Fort Gaines, on Mobile Bay, and others; he was honorably discharged in 1865. June 11, 1863, he married Sarah J. Peacock, daughter of Henry Peacock, deceased, an early settler of Pike county; they have had 10 children, of whom 8 are living, - Henry, Nancy, Catharine, Jacob, Peter, Ransom, Martha and John. Mr. Kessinger is engaged in farming and stock-raising, and resides on sec. 20. He is Justice of the Peace.