Charles H. Mchenry

As printed in 1910

CHARLES H. McHENRY.

Charles H. McHenry, of Cambridge, was only three years old when brought to Henry county and through a long period was closely identified with its agricultural interests, but since 1901 has lived retired in the village. He represents one of the old pioneer families of the state. The Black Hawk war occurred only two years before his birth, which was on the lath of June, 1834, the place of his nativity being in White county, Illinois.

His paternal grandfather was Robert McHenry, a farmer by occupation who, removing to this state settled in White county among its earliest residents. He married Elizabeth Jones and died in White county, while his wife passed away in Henry county. Their son, William McHenry, was born in Barren county, Kentucky, and devoted his life to general farming and to the work of the ministry as a preacher of the Methodist denomination. He cast in his lot with the pioneer settlers of White county, Illinois, and was also one of the first residents of Henry county, arriving in 1836, at which time he entered land in Osco township. In 1837 he removed his family to this county, arriving on the loth of May, and for more than three decades thereafter he was closely associated with the development and the progress of this portion of the state, leaving the impress of his individuality upon the agricultural life of the community and also upon its moral progress. He died March 15, 1868, when about sixty-eight years of age, while his wife passed away in 1890 at the age of seventy years. Mrs. McHenry bore the maiden name of Susie Land and was born in White county, Illinois, her parents being Robert and Lucy (Fike) Land. Her father was a native of South Carolina and became a pioneer settler of White county, Illinois, where he entered claims from the government that have since been in possession of the family. Both he and his wife lived to a ripe old age and had a family of four children, two sons and two daughters, who reached years of maturity. This number included Mrs. McHenry who by her marriage became the mother of ten children, who reached adult age, as follows: Francis; Thomas C.; Joseph B.; Charles H.; Elizabeth, the widow of Isaac Stafford; Mary, the wife of Brown Mapes, of Moline, Illinois; Gelina, the wife of Perry Aldrich; Melinda, the wife of Albert King; Emma, the wife of Silas Aldrich; Laura, the wife of Frank Cox; and two who died in infancy.

Charles H. McHenry was not quite three years of age when his parents removed to this county and from the age of four years he was reared upon the home farm in Phenix township, attending the old-fashioned subscription schools at a day when the teacher "boarded round." Later the district schools were established and he continued his studies through that method of instruction. He has lived to see remarkable changes in the county and the ways of life here. He can remember when the wheat was threshed by being tramped out by horses upon the barn floor and when grain was hauled to Chicago by ox team. The great pork market at that time was at Galena, eighty miles away. Many of the homes were log cabins, cooking was done over the fireplace and the house was lighted by candles. The farmers depended upon what they raised for almost everything they needed, resorting to stores only for a few dry goods and such groceries as sugar, coffee and a few others that could not be raised in this climate. Through the period of his youth when not attending school Mr. McHenry was busy in the fields and after attaining his majority he started out in life for himself, renting land for two years. He decided, however, to own property and purchased eighty acres from his father to which he has added from time to time until he now owns three hundred and twenty acres in Osco township. This he improved from the virgin soil, transforming the raw prairie into rich and productive fields. He continued to engage actively in farming until 1901, when he removed to Cambrdige, where he has since lived retired.

Mr. McHenry has long been pleasantly situated in his home life. On the 3d of January, 1863, he wedded Miss Lucy G. Kilmer, who was born in New York, of which state her parents, William and Lucinda (Larkin) Kilmer, were also natives. They became early settlers of Osco township, where they continued to reside until called to the home beyond. Upon their farm there they reared their family of four sons and four daughters. The paternal grandfather of Mrs. McHenry was a native of New York and a soldier of the war of 181 2. His ancestors came from Germany. The maternal grandfather of Mrs. McHenry was Henry Larkin, who was likewise born in the Empire state and also aided in protecting American interests in the second war with England.

Mr. and Mrs. McHenry have become parents of six children: AHce, Hving in Chicago; Emma, the wife of Curtis Sheesly, a resident of Rock Island, Illinois; Lucy, who became the wife of Edward Lindberg and died in 1895, a few months after her marriage; Alvin, who conducts the home farm in Osco township and married Ida Guthrie, of Nebraska, by whom he has three children: Robert, John and Jessie; Edgar, of Geneseo, who married Cora Blair of that place, and has one daughter, Ruth; and Arthur, who is employed in the tube works of Kewanee. He married Jennie Church and they have one daughter, Dorothy.

Mr. and Mrs. Charles H. McHenry are members of the Methodist church, with which they have long been identified. His political allegiance is given to the democracy but during the period of his active life he was too busy to seek or desire public office. He now has a nice home in Cambridge where he and his wife are living. They have traveled life's journey together for forty-seven years, sharing each other's joys and sorrows, adversity and prosperity. Few residents of the county have so long resided in the village borders or have more intimate knowledge of its history that Mr. McHenry, who for seventy-two years has made his home here.

As printed in History of Henry County, Illinois (1910). See the original pages. Wording is the original; obvious scanning errors have been corrected, and a few may remain.