The farming interests of Henry township find a worthy representative in Henry Eugene WHITMAN, who is successfully engaged in the tilling of the soil, raising the cereals best adapted to soil and climate. He is a native son of Illinois, his birth having occurred in Bureau county, September 15, 1869. His paternal grandfather was George WHITMAN, a Methodist minister, who devoted many years of his life to gospel work and became a pioneer preacher of Illinois, where he aided largely in planting the seeds of moral development at an early day. His son, George Henry WHITMAN, was born in the state of New York. He is a carpenter by trade and in connection with building operations he has followed the occupation of farming and is now engaged in the implement business at Cherryvale, Kansas. He wedded Mary Jane PETTITT and unto them have been born seven children who are yet living and one deceased, namely: Mrs. Eudora Uletha BLUE, a resident of Kansas; Clarissa Lucina, now Mrs. GRADY, of Whitefield Corners, whose husband is a painter; Ira, deceased; Henry, of this review; Frances Emily, at home; Clinton Addington, who is engaged in the implement business in Kansas; Newton Ernest, who is in partnership with his father at Cherryvale; Luther Eads, who is a commercial traveler.
Henry E. WHITMAN accompanied his parents on their removal from Illinois to Kansas and largely acquired his education in the schools of Independence. He returned to Illinois and became a resident of Henry township. He is now engaged in farming and is raising excellent crops, having fifty acres planted to corn and thirty-eight acres to oats. He is a very practical man and carries forward to successful completion whatever he undertakes. His work therefore is proving a source of good income to him and he is now accounted one of the representative farmers of his community.
In October, 1902, was celebrated the marriage of Mr. WHITMAN and Miss Harriet KETCHAM, a daughter of Daniel KETCHAM. This union has been blessed with one son, Harry Daniel, now three years old. Mr. WHITMAN belongs to Whitefield Gem lodge, No. 572, I. O. O. F., in which he has passed all of the chairs, and he is likewise connected with the Fraternal Reserves. He also holds membership in the Methodist Episcopal church and he gives his political support to the republican party, but is without aspiration for office, preferring to devote his time and energies to his business affairs which he is now capably conducting.
Extracted July 2011 by Norma Hass from Past and Present of Marshall and Putnam Counties Illinois, 1907.
| Bureau | Putnam | |
| Stark |
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La Salle |
| Peoria | Woodford |
