Virgil Mchenry

As printed in 1910

VIRGIL McHENRY.

Both Mr. and Mrs. Virgil McHenry are descended from families who played no inconspicuous part in the early life of this county, and representatives of the family were valiant soldiers in the great conflict between the north and south. In times of peace their influence has been great for the development of the resources of this section of the state, and wherever known the family has been accorded great respect.

Virgil McHenry was born in Phenix township, February 23, 1863, and is a son of Thomas J. and Amanda (Anderson) McHenry. The father settled in that township in 1837 and there engaged in farming until he retired to the city of Geneseo. His life has been one of great activity and he has had many experiences, for he responded to the second call for troops during the Civil war. He saw three or four years of service and in the battle of Vicksburg was wounded. His wife was a daughter of William and Ann (Stadden) Anderson, both natives of Licking county, Ohio, where the birth of the former occurred in the year 1807 and that of the latter in the year following. In 1835 Mr. Anderson came to Illinois, settling in LaSalle county, where he made his home until his death, which occurred in 1846. He was a farmer all his life and a stanch member of the Methodist church. His wife survived him more than half a century and when, in 1898, she too was taken from this world she i/zs buried by him in the Dayton cemetery situated on the banks of Fox river in LaSalle county. They were the parents of six children: Samantha, the widow of C. P. Browning, of Phenix township, and the mother of Orville, Lorette; Edward; Charles; Elizabeth, who is the wife of

William Joles and lives in Colorado Springs; and Carrie. Elizabeth is the wife of George Anderson and lives in Montana; Amanda is the wife of T. J. McHenry and is the mother of the subject of this sketch; Jane married J. F. Gibson and lives in Denton, Texas; W. S. is a resident of Abilene, Kansas; Lucy is the wife of James Lawrence, of Iroquois county, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Mc- Henry had six children, four of whom are living; Luella, who is the wife of Benjamin O'Breight, of Geneseo; Virgil, of this review; Ada, who married Robert Rose, of Geneseo; and Francis, who lives in Phenix township.

Virgil McHenry received his education in the district schools of Phenix township and after his training was completed remained with his parents until he became of age, when he embarked in life for himself. For a number of years he rented land, on a small scale at first, later increasing his responsibilities as he felt able. In 1905 he purchased the land in Phenix township on which he now makes his home. It comprises two hundred and eighty acres, two hundred and forty of which lie on section 34 and the other forty on section 35. His fields are well suited to diversified farming, and he has also found them valuable as a feeding ground for stock. The farm is improved to a high degree as the result of his labors, for he erected the house and barns which are substantial structures and constructed in accordance with modern ideas.

Mr. McHenry was united in marriage in 1892 to Miss Nora Darin, who was born in Phenix township, November 13, 1863, and was a daughter of John Jackson and Eleanor (Clark) Darin, a sketch of whose lives appears in another part of this volume. Three children have been born to them: Bessie Helen, who is attending the Geneseo high school; Telia Ada, who has just finished the course in the district school; and Albert Burdette, who is still a pupil in the local schools.

Mr. McHenry is entirely self-made, for from his early manhood he was compelled to rely upon his own efforts. He has still some of the best years of his life before him, but even now he has attained to a position in which he may enjoy many of the comforts of life. This progress has been made possible through the habits of industi7 and economy, in which his wife has aided him greatly.

Mindful that one of his uncles on his father's side, William McHenry, was shot down in the ranks of the Union army during a severe battle, and that another uncle, on his mother's side, Stadden Anderson, was also in the Civil war, he has given his support in political matters to the republican party but not being a seeker for office has served the community only as a member of the school board.

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.