In the book's own words, not ours, with obvious scanning errors fixed. Families often supplied these stories to the publisher, so check key dates.
Born 1862, Phenix township
From History of Henry County, Illinois (1910)
IRA W. WITHROW.
Ira W. Withrow, who has but recently joined the agriculturists of Edford township, owns one hundred and twenty acres of land on section 12, where he will carry on general farming. He was born in Phenix township, this county, August I, 1862, and is a son of J. W. and Arvilla M. (Allen) Withrow, a sketch of whose lives appears elsewhere in this volume. Until he was nine years of age he lived in the township of his birth and then with his parents removed to Hanna township, where he grew to manhood. He received his early education in the district schools and later enjoyed two winters' instruction under Professor Comstock at Colona. At the age of twenty-one he started out in life for himself as a farmer. For about two years he worked upon his father's farm in Hanna township, and then purchased a farm in that township, thereon he resided until 1892, when he removed to Geneseo. After a year's residence in the city he returned to Hanna township, where he remained four years. Then he sold the one hundred and thirty acres he owned there and bought an interest in an elevator in
Geneseo, where for three years he carried on a grain and coal business. When an opportune occasion arose he disposed of that and engaged in the grocery business, but only for a short time, for he returned to farming and for five years cultivated his father's place in Hanna township. In 1909 he bought his present home in Edford township and intends making it a profitable investment.
In Hanna township, December 17, 1884, Mr. Withrow was united in marriage to Miss Lucina Fuller. She was born in that township, to which her parents, Charles W. and Catherine (Brady) Fuller, came in the early years of its settlement. Their former home was in New York state. Three children have been born to Mr. and Mrs. Withrow. Roy W., born in Hanna township, January 10, 1887, was graduated from the Geneseo high school, and now, after having taught for two years, is a student at Ann Arbor, where he pursued a course in literature. Hazel, born in Hanna township, January 1, 1891, was graduated from the Geneseo high school with the class of 1909. Claude, the youngest, was born in Hanna township, October 21, 1895.
The family are all members of the Methodist Episcopal church, in which Mr. Withrow has served as class leader and as superintendent and teacher in the Sunday school. In his political views he is a republican and is ever punctilious in his attendance at the polls at election times. Although he has never been a candidate for public office for three years he acted as assessor in Hanna township and for many years served as justice of the peace.
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.
The printed record stops around 1910. We trace your line from there down to you, with every source cited.