Marshall County
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TRUE, Arthur

Arthur TRUE, residing on section 5, Whitefield township, Marshall county, and receiving his mail at Whitefield post office, Bureau county, came from the old pine tree state. He was born in Portland, Maine, May 10, 1824, and is a son of Benjamin TRUE, also a native of that state. When but a small boy he removed with his father to Dearborn county, Indiana, where he grew to manhood, assisting his father in the development and improvement of the farm, and remaining at home until he attained his majority. Purchasing from his father the home farm, he continued its cultivation until 1853, when he sold out and removed to Marshall county, Illinois. His marriage, however, occurred some years prior to this removal, that interesting event taking place March 4, 1846. He married Sophronia Abigail DARLING, who was born in Dearborn county, Indiana, May 23, 1823.

On his arrival in this county, Mr. TRUE had but seven hundred dollars with which to begin life in this country. He brought his family and a few household articles by team from his Indiana home, and therefore spent but little on the journey. His first purchase of eighty acres was made on long time. The place was slightly improved, and on it was a small house in which the family moved and where they remained several years. After making some necessary purchases, much of the seven hundred dollars was used up, and, as may be imagined, the next few years were not such as to bring tears of joy. The discomforts of pioneer life had to be endured; ground had to be broken and sown in grain, barns and outhouses erected, orchards planted and stock purchased and cared for. Several years of hard labor, ceaseless toil and strict economy were required in which to pay for the land already purchased and add enough more land to make them a respectable sized Illinois farm. It must be remembered that what would constitute a fair sized farm in the eat would be considered little more than a garden patch in this new west, and so at the earliest opportunity forty acres more were added to the original purchase. This was prior to the war.

When the war came on, the price of grain and other commodities advanced, and the future with greater abundance of this world’s goods was made brighter. Stock raising was also more profitable and Mr. TRUE became a breeder of Poland China hogs and quite an extensive feeder of swine. A larger and more commodious dwelling house was erected which was occupied until 1892, when it was destroyed by fire, entailing on him quite a serious loss. He subsequently rebuilt and is now comfortably living in the new home.

To Mr. and Mrs. TRUE twelve children have been born, as follows: Mary Adeline, wife of Abraham SHURTS, of Bureau county; Harriet Ann, widow of Labon H. COX, of Whitefield township; Huldah Jane, wife of Elliott BUNCH, of Perry, Iowa; Albert, a farmer of Saratoga township; Ellen M., wife of James PATTERSON of Iowa; William MORTON, of Bureau county; John Wesley, at home; Caroline Augusta, wife of George SHURTS, of Saratoga township; Ruth Alma, who died at the age of two years; Alice Eugenie, wife of John FRAILEY, of Henry, but who first married William APPLEGATE, by whom she had one son, Louis, who makes his home with our subject; Charles Burt, at home, and Sarah Emma, who died in infancy.

In politics, Mr. TRUE was originally a whig, and cast his first presidential vote in 1844, and has voted at every presidential election since that time. By nature and training he was a strong anti-slavery man, and it was but natural for him to unite with the republican party on its organization. With that party he has since acted, and has voted for its nominees for president from General John C. Fremont, the great admirer of the immortal Lincoln, and while he did not enter the service during the late war, he did much in promoting enlistments and raising bounties for those who could go.

Religiously, Mr. TRUE is a free thinker, inclined to the Universalist belief, although he has never attached himself to that religious body. He has been a Bible reader and has his views in relation to that book. In early life he was quite a sportsman, and loved especially to chase the nimble footed deer, and with a long shot from his rifle secured the game. On coming to Marshall county prairie chickens were in great numbers and it was high delight to take them on the wing. He yet takes an interest in the sport and excels many young men in the use of the rifle. While in his youth and early manhood, he was fleet of foot and could out run and out jump almost any one in his vicinity. He was naturally of a strong constitution and could endure great fatigue. Of late years he has practically been living a retired life, enjoying the love and respect of family and friends.

Albert TRUE, of section 13, Saratoga township, Marshall county, was born in Dearborn county, Indiana, October 4, 1851, and came with his parents to this county when but a child of two years. His boyhood and youth were spent on the home farm, and his education received in the public schools. He remained with his parents, assisting in the farm work until twenty years of age, when he commenced life for himself, renting a farm in Saratoga township, which he operated for eleven years. He then bought his present farm of one hundred and sixty acres, on which he has made good improvements, and where he engages in general farming. For twenty-six years he has run a threshing machine and corn sheller, and much of his time has been devoted to that work, in connection with a feed grinder. He has operated his machine not alone in Marshall, but in surrounding counties, and is well and favorably known throughout his section of country.

Albert TRUE and Miss Mary E. CULTON were united in marriage September 11, 1872. She is a native of Canton, Illinois, and is a woman of good judgment and ability. Two children have come to bless their union – Ora May and Jarvey J., both yet residing at home. Like his father, Albert TRUE votes the republican ticket “both spring and fall” and is a firm believer in the principles of that party. A practical farmer, an honest, industrious man, he goes on the even tenor of his way, doing as his conscience dictates, and as near as possible living up to the teachings of the golden rule.

Extracted April 2011 by Norma Hass from The Biographical Record of Bureau, Marshall and Putnam Counties, Illinois, 1896.


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