Biography - Lot Luttrell
LOT LUTTRELL. It is said that no people travel so extensively as do the
Americans, and hence their experience of different phases of life is
correspondingly larger as a rule. Our subject has had many advantages in
this respect and has traveled in various ways, not only in the luxurious
Pullman cars of the present day, but also by prairie schooner across the
plains, meeting frequently the red man on his territory. Mr. Luttrell is now
a retired farmer living in Sullivan, where he located January, 1891, coming
here from Whitley Township where he had been engaged for some years and
where he still owns two hundred and forty acres of line land.
The original of our sketch came to Shelby County from DeWitt County, and
while there living was engaged as a grocer in Kinney, of that county. He was
born in Morgan County, Ill., December 24, 1839, and was there reared and
educated. Also after marriage he made that his home for several years. Mr.
Luttrell is the son of John Luttrell, a native of Kentucky. Our subject is
named after his grandfather who was also a native of Kentucky, being there
reared on a farm. Mr. Luttrell's paternal grandmother was likewise a
Kentuckian and a member of an old and highly respected family of that State.
They left their native State after the birth of their first two children, of
which our subject's father John was the elder, having been born in February,
1817, and moved to Illinois about 1820, coming overland and bringing their
household goods and children in a one-horse cart. The parents walked the
greater part of the way, and after a long and tedious trip in which they
camped out at intervals, they settled on what is now Sulphur Springs
Township, and there secured a tract of Government land. The neighboring
village of Jackson was not at that time thought of and there were very few
people in the county, and for a few years they experienced the hardships
incident to pioneer life.
On the farm which our subject's grandparents procured on first coming here
they spent the remainder of their lives. The grandfather's decease occurred
in 1863. His wife survived him by a number of year's, her death occurring
about 1886. She was born in 1799 and was well known as one of the prominent
pioneer women of that county. For many years prior to her death she was
afflicted with blindness. In religion they were adherents of the Baptist
Church, and politics the senior Mr. Luttrell was a Democrat.
The eldest of a large family, John Luttrell, the immediate progenitor of him
of whom we write, was reared to manhood in Morgan County, growing up to the
calling of a farmer. He was married to Miss Tabitha Cross, a native of
Kentucky, a daughter of William and Lotta (Compton) Cross, natives of
Kentucky. After marriage they emigrated to Illinois and settled in the
Eastern part of Morgan County as pioneers.
Our subject's parents began life as farmers and the father pursued his
calling until the time of his death, which took place in 1847. He was then
in straightened circumstances and left a widow with four children whose
names were, Caroline, our subject, William R. and Josiah. Our subject's
mother some time after the death of John Luttrell, was again married to the
Rev. Peter Garrett and they later removed to DeWitt County, where Mrs.
Garrett died June 16, 1869. She was born in 1816. Mr. Garrett united with
his work as a religious teacher the calling of farming; he is now a resident
of Crawford County, Kan.
Our subject was married in the eastern part of Morgan County to Miss Sarah
Cox. She was born in that county November 19, 1845, and is a daughter of
Corydon and Mary (McGill) Cox, natives of Virginia, who came to Illinois
with their respective families at an early day. They were victims of the
great cyclone that passed over the country May 9, 1880, at which time Mr.
Cox was injured. Their servant was killed and also a daughter-in-law, and
all moveable property was swept away.
Our subject and his wife are the parents of four children. They are Mary,
William A., Rufus and Corydon. They are all well educated, highly respected
men and women. William was for some time a teacher. Our subject stands high
in the estimation of his town-people and has been elected to various local
offices. He is a Democrat in politics.
Extracted 25 Apr 2020 by Norma Hass from 1891 Portrait and Biographical Record of Shelby and Moultrie Counties Illinois, pages 675-676.
