McDonough ILGenWeb

BAUMGARDNER, William, who, since 1859, has been successfully engaged in farming in Hire Township, McDonough County, Ill., was born on October 22, 1837, in Germany. He is a son of Jacob and Mary (Brant) Baumgardner, natives of the same country. His father was a baker by trade. The subject of this sketch was brought to the United States by his parents when he was five years of age, the family locating at Chillicothe, Ohio, where he worked as a cabinet-maker until he was twenty years old. He then came to Macomb, where he worked at his trade until, at the age of twenty-one, he rented and farmed land in Tennessee Township. In 1859 he settled in Hire Township, also in McDonough County, where he now lives in Section 35. Here he bought a tract of land, to which he has added until he is now the owner of 246 acres. On this he is engaged in general farming and stock feeding. He is a thorough farmer, and applies himself closely and diligently to the task before him.

On March 19, 1865, Mr. Baumgardner was joined in wedlock with Martha McClure, who was born and schooled in McDonough County. She was a daughter of Rutherford and Sarah (White) McClure, natives of Ohio. The children resulting from this union are nine in number, and named as follows: Wallace, Fred. Thomas, Dock, Lawrence, Ray, Carrie (Mrs. Luther Chandler), Lorena (Mrs. Frank Schryke) and Lizzie (wife of William R. Chandler, a carpenter of Macomb). Politically, Mr. Baumgardner is an adherent of the Democratic party. He served six years as Road Commissioner and held the office of Township Supervisor for one term, and his public services are regarded by the community as having been conscientious and efficient. The religious belief of Mr. Baumgardner is in accordance with the creed of the Presbyterian Church.

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Source: The Historical Encyclopedia of Illinois and History of McDonough County, compiled by Dr. Newton Bateman, and Paul Shelby, 1907, volume 2, page 822, extracted 19 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass.