Biography - William E. Killam
WILLIAM E. KILLAM. Over half a century has been spent by our subject in
upward growth. He was born in the early part of the nineteenth century, when
advantages for culture and education were not thrust upon a young man, but
had to he sought by those who had an inclination therefor. William Killam
was born in Ridge Township, Shelby County, March 7, 1838. He was a son of
John and Mary M. T. (Bowen) Killam, and a grandson of Peter Killam. He now
resides on section 28, of Rural Township, Shelby County, and has been
successful in making a pleasant home and amassing a competency.
When our subject was a lad he attended the country schools, which were very
different from the schools of to-day. Technical training was at that time no
part of the school curriculum. Each boy learning from his father the duties
to be done in agricultural life. Neither was there any attention paid to
modern languages, although Lindsley Murray was conned from first to last
pages, so that every pupil could at least parse an English sentence
correctly, which is more than many can do at the present day. The few who
had the proud acquisition of a knowledge of Latin, made it theirs for life,
and where a Latin student of to-day cannot remember from one day to another,
a single sentence of his translation, the old time Latin students can recite
page after page of Caesar's Commentaries and of Virgil. Our subject laid a
thorough foundation for the education that he afterward acquired by much
drill in the three R's, and in English grammar, at the district schools. He
completed his education at the old seminary at Shelbyville, which at the
time was considered a very fine institution of learning. While here, George
R. Wendling was his classmate and associate. After finishing at Shelbyville,
our subject was engaged as a teacher for two terms.
On October 31, 1861, Mr. Killam was united in marriage to Levicy Tolly,
daughter of Robert and Jemima (Denton) Tolly. She was born in Flat Branch
Township, Shelby County, this state, February 16, 1838. She was an admirable
woman and made a pleasant home for her husband and the six children which
she left on her death, to her husband's care. Her decease took place in
1889. Her children's names are as follows: Mary R., Morris F., John H.,
Clara A., William E., and Mabel G. During her life Mrs. Killam was a
consistent and conscientious member of the Baptist Church.
Previous to his marriage he of whom we write had built a house on the land
where he made his home. The young couple at once settled here, spending the
happiest days of their marital life in the making of a home in its truest
sense, that is, not four square walls that should be merely an abiding
place, but the sanctuary of love, sympathy and encouragement. Our subject
now owns two hundred acres of land that is under a good state of
improvement. He has always followed mixed husbandry, finding that to be in
the end more profitable than attention to specialties. Our subject is a
member of the Baptist Church, as was his wife. While the political
inclinations of Mr. Killam are toward Democracy, like most men who have
breadth of thought he is rather independent, leaning however toward
Prohibition. He has held several local offices in the township, having been
Assessor, Supervisor, School Assessor, and Town Clerk. He is a charter
member of the Rural Township Farmers' Mutual Insurance Company, and since
its organization has always held an office. This company insures farm
property in six townships, namely: Tower Hill, Rural, Flat Branch, Pickaway,
Ridge and Todd's Point.
Mr. Killam has taken great interest in the education of his children. Two of
these, Mary R. and Morris E., have attended the State Normal University at
Normal, Ill., where they finished the course with high honor to themselves.
Mary taught school for several years, and Morris E. was likewise engaged for
three terms. Clara E. has devoted herself to becoming proficient in the art
of music, having attended the Jacksonville Musical Institute, and being a
fine pianist. The young people are intelligent and accomplished and their
father is justified in the pride which he takes in their progress.
Extracted 29 May 2019 by Norma Hass from 1891 Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties Illinois, pages 625-626.
