BIOGRAPHY - H. BEVINGTON
Among those who, formerly identified with agricultural interests, have found in close application and careful management in the pursuits of the farm the means for the acquirement of substantial competence that now enables them to live retired is H. H. Bevington, of Paxton. He was born in Wayne county, Ohio, November 16, 1852, his parents being Samuel and Marcia Ann (Johnson) Bevington, who were likewise natives of the Buckeye state and of English parentage. The family came to America at an early day and was established in Ohio during the pioneer epoch in the history of that state. Samuel Bevington followed the occupation of farming and died in Defiance county, Ohio, after having devoted his active life to the work of the fields. Unto him and his wife were born nine children, eight of whom reached adult age, namely: C. J., a farmer of Crawford county, Kansas; Nancy, the wife of George Dodge, of De Kalb county, Indiana; Hannah, the wife of Oscar Dodge, of Defiance county, Ohio; H. H., of this review; E. A., who follows farming in Butler township, Ford county, Illinois; S. P., who is living in Buckley, Iroquois county, Illinois; S. E., whose home is in Hoopeston, Vermilion county, this state; and Delia M., the wife of Reed Place, of Defiance county, Ohio. The mother passed away December 15, 1891, while the death of the father occurred March 3, 1904.
H. H. Bevington acquired his education in the common schools of Defiance county, Ohio, and the year 1878 witnessed his arrival in this county. He was then a young man of twenty-six years and began life here upon a rented farm, for he had no capital with which to purchase property. Ten years of industry and economy, however, enabled him to become the owner of two hundred acres of land in Patton township, which he purchased for forty-one dollars per acre, and upon which some slight improvements had been made. With characteristic energy he took up its further development and cultivation and in course of time the fields were bringing forth rich and abundant harvests. This is now well improved with good buildings and the substantial barns and outbuildings necessary for the shelter of grain and stock. He has made it a model farm and everything about the place indicates his thrifty spirit and enterprising efforts. He continued active in the work of the fields until 1901, when he removed to Paxton and the following year purchased a nice home in the town, since which time he has lived retired.
On the 21st of June, 1877, Mr. Bevington was married, in Defiance county, Ohio, to Miss Alice U. Irish, a daughter of Charles R. and Eliza (Barney) Irish. They were the parents of eight children: Diana, now the widow of H. Keller, of Defiance county, Ohio; Augusta, the widow of A. T. Spencer, of the same county; Silas W., who is living in Williams county, Ohio; Francis V., of Chicago, Illinois; Delia V., the wife of J. A. Grandy, of Clarence, Ford county, Illinois; Alice, now Mrs. Bevington; Herbert E., who has passed away, while his family resides in Hicksville, Ohio; and Ina, the deceased wife of Thomas Eck, of Williams county, Ohio. Mr. Irish was called to his final rest May 16, 1889 and his wife died March 5, 1908.
Mr. and Mrs. Bevington have but one child, Charles E., a graduate of the Rice Collegiate Institute, who was born July 23, 1881, and was married February 6, 1900, to Miss Emma L. Denman, a daughter of William Denman, of Paxton. They have two children, Bernina M. and Dorothy M., and they reside upon his father's farm in Patton township.
Mr. Bevington is a member of Paxton Lodge, No. 418, I. O. O. F., and politically is a democrat. For twelve years he served on the school board. He came to the county a poor man, but the road to success is open to all who have the perseverance to continue therein. Through hard work and the exercise of true economy he has succeeded in accumulating a handsome property and is regarded as one of the most substantial, as well as one of the most respected citizens of this part of the state.
Extracted 17 Oct 2016 by Norma Hass from History of Ford County, Illinois, From Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, author E. A. Gardner, Volume 2, pages 692-694.
