Biography of W. Y. McCORD, DeWitt County, Illinois Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives Copyright 1999 Earliene Kaelin Source: People from the Histories 1882 History W. Y. McCORD It is eminently fitting that in a history of De Witt county proper mention should be made of him whose name heads this sketch. Few men in the northern part of the county exercised more influence for good, or took a more active interest in promoting enterprises that had for their object the increase of the material wealth or prosperity of Santa Anna township, than W. Y. McCord. He was born in Tennessee, October 29, 1816. He came to Illinois with his parents, James and Mary McCord, in 1831, and settled in DeWitt county, near Fullerton. In 1837 he moved to section thirty-two in Santa Anna township. He then entered a tract of land, which he improved, and afterwards added to it, and there he made his home until his death, which took place January 18, 1880. On the 8th of February, 1838, he married Miss Harriet, daughter of John and Rachel Weedman. She was born in Ohio, October 8th, 1819. By that union there was one son, named John Henry McCord, who was born Dec. 19, 1838. He married Sarah A., daughter of Thomas and Rachel Slick, February 4th, 1864, by which marriage there are two children, named Lora Nettie, and William H. McCord. In his life, William Young McCord was an earnest and consistent member of the M. E. Church. He joined that religious denomination in 1837, and ever afterwards remained true to his religious vows. To him, religion meant all that the word implied. He carried it to his home, in his business and into the world; whereever he went, he never forgot his obligations and duties to his Creator. In the church government he freely gave the benefit of his wise counsels, and he was for many years its chief director and advisor. In the management of the affairs of the township he was for many years a prominent actor. He was supervisor for a long number of years, and was acting in that capacity when the Indianapolis, Bloomington and Pekin railroad was built, and was elected a director of the road, a position he held until his death. He held the office of Assessor for seventeen years, and was Justice of the Peace for a number of terms. In all these positions he so conducted the business of his offices, that there was never a word breathed against his good name. All acknowledge his sterling honesty and strict probity of character. When he died, De Witt county lost one of her best men and most active citizens. This is the universal verdict of all who knew W. Y. McCord. ------------------------------------------------------------------ USGENWEB NOTICE: These electronic pages may NOT be reproduced in any format for profit or presentation by other organiza- tions or persons. Persons or organizations desiring to use this material, must obtain the written consent of the contri- butor, or the legal representative of the submitter, and contact the listed USGenWeb archivist with proof of this consent. ----------------------------------------------------------------- File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Earliene Kaelin