Henry Reese

 

SOURCE: "Portrait and Biographical Album of Champaign County, Illinois," Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1887
SURNAMES: ARGO, COLE, FEASTER, HAYMONS, REESE, SUNDERLAND

HENRY REESE, a highly respected member of the farming community of St. Joseph Township, has successfully operated on a valuable body of land on section 10 since the spring of 1857. He is a fine illustration of the self-made man, who from a modest beginning has worked his own way up in the world to a good position socially and financially among his fellow-citizens, and by his straightforward and upright life has secured their kindly regard and confidence.

The first recollections of our subject are of his father’s farm in Washington County, Pa., where he played when a boy, and where he first opened his eyes to the light, July 10, 1829. He comes of excellent Welsh ancestry which was first represented in this country in the Colonial days, and whose descendants, settling in Pennsylvania, reared families of sons and daughters who formed a large proportion of the farming element of that region. Thomas REESE, the grandfather of our subject, was born in Pennsylvania, where he grew to manhood and married Miss Anna, daughter of William and Rebecca SUNDERLAND, of English descent. After marriage they located permanently in Washington County, where they built up a good record as parents, friends and citizens. They reared their children to habits of industry, and passed to their final rest near the place where they first joined hands together for the journey of life. They never became wealthy, but were able to provide comfortably for their ten children until they were old enough to go out into the world and take care of themselves. These all lived to mature years, were married, and nine of them still survive.

The subject of this narration was the second son and child of his parents, and passed his boyhood and youth on the homestead in the Keystone State after the manner of most farmers’ sons of that period. As soon as old enough his services were utilized on the farm, while a brief period each winter was spent in the district schools. Later he began earning a little extra money by working for the neighbors in his vicinity, and finally drifted into the Prairie State and Champaign County. He was first employed in herding sheep for Silas Clark, with whom he remained three years, after which he began renting land, which he continued until purchasing his present farm. This now includes 185 acres of finely improved land, lying near the town of St. Joseph, convenient for both market and trade. Mr. Reese spent several years in tilling the soil, building fences and adding other necessary improvements, and then turned his attention principally to the raising of high-grade cattle, in which he has been eminently successful, being able to exhibit some of the finest animals in Central Illinois.

Mr. Reese married, in the spring of 1859, Miss Catherine, daughter of Moses ARGO, Esq., who was one of the earliest pioneers of this county, and first established himself upon a tract of land in Champaign County, where among other children this daughter was born, reared and educated. Of this marriage there were born six children. The eldest, Samantha, became the wife of Alfred COLE; the others are William F., Addie, Jennie, Lyman and Oran B.

Mrs. Reese departed this life at the home of her husband, Feb. 15, 1880. Mr. Reese was a second time married, at Urbana, April 10, 1884, to Miss Emma, the daughter of Levi and Leanna (HAYMONS) FEASTER. Of this union there were born two children—Pearl, and one who died in infancy unnamed.

Mr. and Mrs. Reese are members of the Christian Church at St. Joseph, to the support of which they have always contributed liberally, and in which our subject has served as Trustee for several years. They enjoy the friendship and respect of a large circle of friends and acquaintances, and their home forms a pleasant resort for the best people of St. Joseph Township, who have learned to esteem the worthy proprietor and his wife for their excellent qualities as neighbors, friends and citizens.