BIOGRAPHY - WILLIAM WALLRICHS
A valuable farming property comprising two hundred and forty-three acres, situated on section 2, Pella township, is the home of William A. Wallrichs, who is engaged in general agricultural pursuits and stock raising, making a specialty of the latter. He was born in Germany, March 11, 1852, where his parents lived and died. He is the eldest of a family of eight children, the others being: Ricka, the wife of J. J. Lantry, of Kansas; Thomas J., who makes his home in Livingston county, Illinois; Wallace, deceased; Delia, who has also passed away; Chris, who resides in Colorado; and two, who are deceased.
Mr. Wallrichs acquired his education in the schools of his native land, and was a youth of sixteen years when he emigrated to the new world, being attracted by the favorable reports which he had heard concerning this country. Upon reaching American shores he at once made his way to Chatsworth, Illinois, where for a year he was employed on the railroad. He then worked at the blacksmith's trade for two years, subsequent to which time he entered the butchering business, which occupied his time and attention during the succeeding twenty-one years. In 1900, however, he disposed of that business and located on his present farm, comprising two hundred and forty-three acres of rich and productive land, situated on section 2, Pella township. He is here engaged in cultivating the cereals best adapted to soil and climate, and is also engaged in raising stock, giving the greater part of his attention to this field of activity. Altogether Mr. Wallrichs has followed farming for fifteen years, and is meeting with excellent success in his undertakings, following only the most practical and modern methods in carrying on his work.
In 1876 Mr. Wallrichs chose as a companion and helpmate for the journey of life, Miss Sophia Dannaman, who is likewise a native of Germany, her birth having there occurred in 1853, and she is one of a family of four children, whose parents are both deceased. Unto our subject and his wife have been born eight children, of whom six are living. The family record is as follows: Tena, deceased; Henry, who resides in Ford county; Tena, the second of that name, who married John Keefe; Minnie, at home; Mattie, who passed away; Ricka, who is still under the parental roof; Anna, who is engaged in teaching school; and William, at home.
Mr. Wallrichs gives his political support to the republican party and for the past seventeen years has served as school director, the cause of education ever fmding in him a warm and stalwart friend. He is a member of Chatsworth Lodge, No. 539, A. F. & A. M., and also belongs to the chapter at Fairbury. Both he and his wife are members of the German Lutheran church, in the work of which they take an active and helpful part, giving freely of their means toward the support of this organization.
Mr. Wallrichs is familiar with the development and improvement that has been carried on in Livingston and Ford counties through almost four decades, for when he located in this section of the state there were many pioneer conditions still to be seen. Much of the land was still unimproved, and deer and other wild game were still to be seen roaming over the prairies. He can recall an incident in the winter of 1869, when he shot several deer about a mile north of his present home. He is a self-made man, deserving of much credit for what .he has accomplished in the business world, for though he came here in early youth, dependent upon his own resources for a livelihood, he has through his close attention, careful management and untiring industry, gained a success which now enables him to enjoy all the comforts and many of the luxuries of life.
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 462-464.
