William Skinner

 

SOURCE: "Portrait and Biographical Album of Champaign County, Illinois," Chapman Brothers, Chicago, 1887
SURNAMES: MILLER, RICH, SKINNER

WILLIAM SKINNER. The subject of the following biography, who is a native of the Buckeye State, owns and occupies a good farm of 130 acres on section 35, Tolono township. His residence, however, is within the town limits. He is a native of Warren County, Ohio, born March 3, 1842, and the son of Thomas and Lucinda (MILLER) SKINNER. The former was a native of Warren County, Ohio and the latter of Hamilton County, that State.

After their marriage the parents located upon a farm. The father, who in early life had learned the trades of a shoemaker and carpenter, worked at these, in connection with his farming, as opporunity afforded, and theparents occupied the homestead on which they first settled until their decease, in 1863, the father dying February 10, and the mother two days afterward. Their family consisted of six children, one of whom died in infancy and one at the age of sixteen years. The latter's death occurred three days after the mother, Feb. 15, 1863. Four lived to attain their majority. Daniel is a plasterer by trade and resides in his native county, in Ohio; Abraham D. is farming in Tolono Township; William is the subject of this sketch; Thomas N., the youngest, is unmarried and a resident of Kansas.

William Skinner was reared to farming pursuits and received his education in the common schools of the Buckeye State. He remained with his parents as long as they lived, and in 1868 was united in marriage with Miss Martha RICH, who was born in Hamilton County, Ohio, Aug. 30, 1847, and is the daughter of John and Mary RICH. The following spring he came with his bride to Illinois, and in company with his brother, Abraham, purchased 160 acres of land in Tolono Township, which they cultivated together for five years following. Our subject then disposed of his interest in the property and purchased of a younger brother eighty acres in the same township, which he cultivated also five years. He then sold out and removed into town. He always believed, however, that real estate was a good investment, and soon afterward purchased 210 acres lying on section 35, in Tolono Township. In June, 1884, he traded eighty acres of said land for his present commodious and conveniently arranged residence in the village. He still owns 130 acres, the cultivation of which he superintends and which embraces a fine fertile tract of land, prolific of the various choice crops indigenous to the soil of Illinois.

Our subject and his wife became the parents of three children, of whom one died in infancy. Those surviving are Cortland and Pearl. Mr. S. is Republican in politics, a member in good standing of the I. O. O. F., and with his family, is a regular attendant of the Presbyterian Church.