BIOGRAPHY - HENRY STEDMAN
Henry Stedman is one of the younger representatives of the farming interests of Ford county, and one of its native sons. He now resides in Pella township, deriving his income from a good farm of one hundred and eighty acres situated on sections 10 and 11. He was born on the 25th of February, 1881, of the marriage of Nelson and Harriet (Read) Stedman, who are mentioned elsewhere in this volume in connection with the sketch of Earl Stedman.
At the usual age Henry Stedman was sent to the public schools and mastered the branches of learning therein taught, thus qualifying for the duties of life which come when one leaves the schoolroom. During the summer months he had been inured to the work of the farm and the occupation to which he was reared he determined to make his life pursuit. When nineteen years of age he began farming on his own account and his first investment in property made him the owner of forty acres. To this he has added until he now owns one hundred and eighty acres on sections 10 and 11, Pella township, being regarded as one of the young enterprising farmers of the community. His place has a well kept appearance and the fields annually bring forth rich crops, for the work of plowing, planting and harvesting is systematically done, due attention being given to the condition and quality of the soil.
In politics Mr. Stedman is a republican and fraternally he is connected with the Odd Fellows Lodge, No. 481, at Piper City, and also the Woodmen Camp at Piper City.
In 1903 occurred the marriage of Henry Stedman and Miss Theresa Drinan, who was born in Ohio. Her father, John Drinan, now lives in Oilman, Illinois, but the mother is deceased. Mrs. Stedman was one of two children, and by her marriage has a daughter, Lorna Helen. Mr. and Mrs. Stedman attend and support the Methodist Episcopal church. They are well known in Ford county, and are much esteemed by a large circle of warm friends.
Extracted 16 Oct 2016 by Norma Hass from History of Ford County, Illinois, From Its Earliest Settlement to 1908, author E. A. Gardner, Volume 2, pages 469-470.
