BIOGRAPHY - HARRY SCHUTTE
The
farming interests of Dix township find a worthy representative in Harry
Schutte, who makes his home on section 28. He is pleasantly located about
six and a half miles northeast of Gibson City and a mile and a quarter
northeast of Guthrie, and here he is successfully engaged in general farming
and stock-raising. He was born in the northern part of Germany in 1857 and
is a son of Gerhard and Taytye Schutte, who were farming people of the
fatherland, where they spent their entire lives. In their family were six
children, and two sisters, Ellis and Johanna, are now residents of America.
Harry Schutte acquired his education in the schools of Germany and came to America in 1881, when a young man of twenty-four years. He sailed from Bremen and after a voyage of two weeks landed at Baltimore but did not tarry on the eastern coast, making his way direct to Gibson City, Illinois. In this locality he worked out by the month as a farm hand for six years on different farms and then when his labors and economy had brought him sufficient capital he purchased eighty acres of land, of which he became the possessor in 1890, paying for it fifty dollars per acre. Five years later he sold that tract for seventy-five dollars per acre and invested in a quarter section of land where he now lives on section 28, Dix township. For this he paid seventy-five dollars per acre. He has placed most of the improvements upon the property, has drained and tiled the land, built barns, put in scales and in fact has added all modern equipments and accessories which facilitate the farm work. In addition to raising the cereals best adapted to soil and climate he also handles some stock and gains a good financial return annually from his labors in that direction. In addition to the home property he owns one hundred and sixty acres of land in Sullivant township, Ford county, which he purchased two years ago for one hundred and ten dollars per acre and which is well improved.
In 1888 occurred the marriage of Mr. Schutte and Miss Caroline Bonnen a sister of Harry Bonnen, of whom mention is made elsewhere in this volume. She was born in Germany and was a daughter of Bonnie P. and Tillie (De Grote) Bonnen. They came to America in 1867 and Mrs. Schutte acquired her education in the district schools of this country. By her marriage she has become the mother of seven children: George; Tillie; John; Caroline; Annie; Elma, deceased; and the first born, who died in infancy.
Mr. Schutte casts an independent ballot, supporting men and measures rather than party. He is, however, interested in the welfare of his community and his cooperation can always be counted upon to further progressive public measures. He belongs to the German Lutheran church and a life of uprightness and business integrity has won for him the friendship and good will of his fellowmen.
Extracted 19 Oct 2016 by Norma Hass from History of Ford County, Illinois, From Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, author E. A. Gardner, Volume 1, pages 392-395.
