Ford County IL Archives Biographies.....Herron, James August 21, 1825 - 
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Source: History of Ford County, Illinois: from its earliest settlement to 1908, volume 1, pages 381-382
Author: Gardner, Ernest Arthur

James W. Herron, in whose death Ford county lost a valued citizen, was for 
many years connected with general agricultural pursuits in this part of the 
state and the salient qualities of his character were such as commended him to 
the confidence, good will and high regard of those who knew him. He was born 
in Georgetown, Brown county, Ohio, August 21, 1825, his parents being John and 
Elizabeth (Killwell) Herron. The mother, who was of Scotch lineage, died in 
Ohio, while the father, who was of Irish descent, spent his last days in 
Woodford county, Illinois. In their family were three sons and three 
daughters, namely: Mrs. Jane McCoy, deceased; Killwell, who served in defense 
of the Union in the Civil war and is now deceased; Mrs. Rebecca Johnson, who 
has also passed away; James W., of this review; Mrs. Mary McCoy, deceased; and 
Andrew, who died in Ford county.

James W. Herron was reared in the state of his nativity and his environments 
were largely those of pioneer life, for it was during the early period of 
Ohio's development. He enlisted for service in the Mexican war but was 
rejected on account of having an injured foot. He was a young man of about 
twenty-three years when he came with his parents to Illinois, the family home 
being established in Woodford county. James W. Herron took up his abode upon a 
farm adjoining his father's place on the west, having there a tract of land of 
eighty acres, the father giving each of his children eighty acres of land. 
Upon that place he lived for about six years and in 1854 removed to another 
farm of ninety acres. Throughout his entire business career he carried on 
general agricultural pursuits, working diligently and persistently year after 
year to provide for his family. In February, 1885, he removed to Ford county, 
settling on a farm in Brenton township. He became the owner of two hundred 
acres of which eighty acres was in one tract and one hundred and twenty in 
another, about a mile apart. Upon his farm in Ford county he resided, until 
his death, which occurred on the 31st of October, 1896, when he had reached 
the age of seventy-one years. After coming to Illinois he worked at the 
carpenter's trade for a time but with the exception of a brief period he 
always gave his attention to a general agricultural pursuits and his practical 
methods and unfaltering industry constituted the foundation upon which he 
built his success.

On the 6th of April, 1854, Mr. Herron was married to Miss Carrie Trunnell, who 
was born near Georgetown in Brown county, Ohio, November 29, 1837, and died in 
Woodford county, Illinois, when about forty-two years of age. They were the 
parents of nine children, of whom six are yet living, namely: John, a resident 
farmer of Brenton township; George W. who is living in Woodford county, this 
state; James P., who is living on the old homestead farm in Brenton township; 
Mary E., the wife of Joseph Tracy, of Brown county, Ohio; Minnie B., the wife 
of Samuel Wells, who is located in Brenton township; and Nellie, who is the 
widow of George Ross and resides with Mrs. Herron in Piper City. After losing 
his first wife Mr. Herron was again married, in 1881, his second union being 
with Miss Mary Elizabeth Berry, who was born in Brown county, Ohio, in the 
same neighborhood as her husband. Her natal day was February 1, 1835, and her 
parents were Samuel and Rebecca (Hamilton) Berry, natives of Brown and of 
Trumbull counties, Ohio respectively, their entire lives being passed in the 
Buckeye state. In their family were eight children: Lorinda Espey, deceased; 
Mrs. Jane Ward, of Ohio; Mrs. Lilla Petticorn; Mrs. Anna Parcell; Mrs. Herron; 
Mrs. Amanda Richards; Robert W., of Ohio; and Marcus. Both sons engaged in 
teaching school for many years and are now located on farms in the Buckeye 
state.

In his political views Mr. Herron was a stalwart republican but never sought 
nor desired office. While decided in his views and holding firmly to the 
principles in which he believed, he was never an agitator. He belonged to the 
Methodist Episcopal church at Piper City and his belief permeated his entire 
life, making him an honest, upright man. He was rather quiet and retiring in 
disposition but his genuine worth was recognized by all who knew him and at 
all times he did his full duty to his family, his friends and his country.

Mrs. Herron, still surviving her husband, has made her home during the past 
nine years in Piper City and erected the residence that she now occupies. She 
is a lady whom to know is to esteem and love. Her spirit is kindly, gentle and 
generous and to her step-children she has done a mother's full part and is 
loved by them with the same affection that would be given to an own mother. 
Her circle of friends is coextensive with the circle of her acquaintances and 
it is with genuine pleasure that we present the record of her life to the 
readers of this volume.

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