BIOGRAPHY - HENRY SPELLMEYER
HENRY SPELLMEYER, who is engaged in general farming on section 13,
Peach Orchard Township, was born about fifteen miles from Winden,
Westphalia, Germany, on the 1st of .January, 1840. His parents, Godfrey and
Caroline Spellmeyer, are represented on another page of this work in
connection with Charles Spellmeyer. They were the parents of eight children,
of whom our subject is the fifth.
In taking up the personal history of Henry Spellmeyer, we present to our
readers the life record of one of the well-known citizens of Ford County. He
received no special advantages in his youth. His education was acquired in
the common schools and he was reared to manhood upon his father's farm. His
home continued to be in Prussia until 1855, when he came to America,
crossing the Atlantic in a sailing-vessel, which reached harbor after
forty-two days spent upon the ocean. Our subject did not tarry long in the
East, but came at once to Illinois, locating in Putnam county, where he
began work upon a farm by the month, and was thus employed for about five
years. On the 26th of March, 1867, he was united in marriage with Miss
Louise Steinmann, who was born in 1837, within two miles of her husband's
native place. The same year of his marriage, he came to Ford County and
purchased eighty acres of land on section 13, Peach Orchard Township. To
this he has since added a tract of four hundred and eighty acres, making in
all an aggregate of five hundred and sixty acres.
The union of Mr. and Mrs. Spellmeyer has been blessed with a family of six
children: Caroline died in her sixth year; Henry, who aids his father in the
operation of the home farm; Mary, wife of Gust. Seabert, a resident farmer
of Wall Township; Charles, Minnie, and Lena, all of whom are still with
their parents. The family has a pleasant home upon the farm before
mentioned, and in social circles parents and children rank high. The father
operates the home farm in connection with his sons, and has one of the
valuable places in the community, its neat appearance indicating the thrift
and enterprise of the owner, while its many improvements attest the fact
that he is a practical and progressive agriculturist, thoroughly conversant
with his business in all its details. He is fair and honest in all his
dealings, and thereby has won the confidence and regard of those with whom
he has been brought in contact.
Mr. Spellmeyer exercises his right of franchise in support of the Republican
party, whose principles he has advocated since he became a voter. He has
never sought public office but has served as Road Commissioner. Himself and
family are members of the German Lutheran Church, and among the worthy
citizens of the community who have aided in the upbuilding and development
of the county, he is numbered.
Extracted 14 Dec 2017 by Norma Hass from Portrait and Biographical Record of Ford County, Illinois, page 195.
