BIOGRAPHY - Michael Imm
MICHAEL IMM is numbered among the early settlers of the county, having
since 1862 made his home on section 35, Peach Orchard Township, where he
owns a good and well-improved farm of eighty acres. His life record is as
follows: He was born on the 25th of February, 1834, in Prussia, Germany, and
is a son of Michael and Mary (Blising) Imm. His parents were both natives of
Prussia, and his father was a farmer by occupation, following that business
throughout his entire life. In their family were seven children, four sons
and three daughters, namely: Minnie, Michael, William, Samuel, Godfrey,
Catherine and Dolly.
The educational advantages of our subject were limited, for he attended
school only until thirteen years of age, but since arriving at years of
maturity reading and observation have largely counteracted this deficiency
of his youth, and he is a well-informed man. He remained with his parents
until 1866, when, at the age of thirty-two years, he bade good-bye to his
old home and emigrated to America. The voyage lasted seven weeks, but at
length the vessel reached the harbor of New York in safety, and from that
city Mr. Imm made his way to Chicago. He finally located in Marshall County,
Ill., where he began working by the month on a farm, and was thus employed
for four years. At the expiration of that period, he came to Ford County, in
1871, and, having saved some capital as the result of his industry and
economy, purchased eighty acres of land on section 35, Peach Orchard
Township, where he has since made his home.
In 1873, Mr. Imm led to the marriage altar Miss Tina Gurkee, and unto them
were born four children, but two of the number died in infancy. Two
daughters, Minnie and Tina, still reside with their father, who, in 1884,
was called upon to mourn the loss of his wife.
When Mr. Imm located upon his land it was in its primitive condition, hardly
an improvement having been made, but he plowed and planted it and continued
its cultivation, until now eighty acres of well-cultivated land yield a
golden tribute to the care and labor he bestows upon it. The place presents
a neat and attractive appearance, and the owner is accounted one of the
practical and enterprising farmers of the community. Whatever success he has
achieved in life is due to his own efforts, for became to America
empty-handed, and has worked his way upward by indomitable will and energy.
He has met with some reverses, but, all in all, his prosperity has been
achieved without aid. He exercises his right of franchise in support of the
Republican party and is a member of the German Lutheran Church.
Extracted 31 Jul 2020 by Norma Hass from Portrait and Biographical Record of Ford County, Illinois, published in 1892, page 291.
