Biography - William J. Henry
WILLIAM J. HENRY. This gentleman, who like many of the residents of
Ridge Township, Shelby County, is a native of the Buckeye State, is a son of
Isaac Henry, and Elizabeth Foster, the former, a native of Ohio, and the
latter, of Maryland. The respected father died in Noble County, Ohio, after
which sad event the mother came to Shelby County, and died at the residence
of her son, the subject of this life record. They had seven children, of
whom our subject is the fourth in age.
William Henry first saw the light in Jefferson County, Ohio, February 23,
1823. When he was but a little child his parents removed from their old home
to Guernsey County, and here the boy was educated in the common schools and
on the farm and grew to a vigorous and active young manhood. In Noble
County, Ohio, he found the lady whom he chose as the one above all others to
be his helpmate through life and they were united in marriage, October 11,
1849. Her maiden name was Margaret Wilson, and she was a daughter of Reuben
and Sarah (Yoho) Wilson. Her mother died in Noble County, and her father
somewhat later in Washington County.
The life of Mrs. Margaret Henry began in Guernsey County, Ohio, April 1,
1828, and here she received her early education before going to Noble
County. The earliest wedded home of Mr. and Mrs. Henry was in Noble County
and there they continued to reside for some seventeen years, removing in
1866 to Shelby County, where they established themselves on section 9, Ridge
Township, which has since then been their permanent home. Upon this land Mr.
Henry has erected an excellent set of farm buildings, and he now possesses
some three hundred and eighty-two acres.
To Mr. and Mrs. Henry have been granted ten children to cheer and enliven
their home. They are; Lewis C., who married Mary Hart; Reuben W., who died
when twenty-five years old in Ridge Township; John B., who has taken to wife
Nellie Bextle; Rebecca A., the wife of Thomas T. Henry; Sarah E. became the
wife of John N. Thomas; Emma J. married William Carder: Abraham, whose wife
bore the maiden name of Minnie Burk; William S.; Jacob S. whose wife was
Mary Burk; Margaret C.
The work of farming has very thoroughly engaged the attention of Mr. Henry,
although he has given some time to public affairs, having served for some
time as School Director. He formerly took an active interest in political
matters, being a believer in the principles of the Republican party, but he
is now a Prohibitionist and active in the temperance cause, and a member of
the Farmers' Mutual Benefit Association. In religious matters he is
interested in the society known as the Church of God, where he and his wife
are members and in which he has served as an Elder. His excellent buildings
and neat farm, speak well for the thorough hand and the keen eye of the
farmer who supervises the work.
Extracted 12 Jan 2018 by Norma Hass from 1891 Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties Illinois, page 424.
