Grundy County IL Archives Biographies.....Furr, Stephanas W September 13, 1837 - 
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Deb Haines ddhaines@gmail.com February 20, 2006, 7:02 am

Author: Bio/Gen Rec LaSalle/Grundy Counties 1900

Stephanas W. Furr, one of Grundy County’s most enterprising business men, is 
of French descent, his grandfather, Enoch Furr, having been born and reared in 
France. At about the time of the Revolutionary war he emigrated to America and 
settled in Loudoun county, Virginia, where he was successfully engaged in 
farming until shortly before his death, which event took place when he was one 
hundred and four years of age.

Lewton Furr, the father of our subject, was born in 1797, in the Old Dominion. 
He remained with his parents until he attained his majority, when he married 
Pleasant Matthews and started upon his independent career. Renting a farm in 
Loudoun county, he cultivated the place for ten years, and then moved to 
Frederick county, same state, where he purchased a good homestead. In 1854 he 
sold out and came to LaSalle county, Illinois. Here he continued his 
agricultural labors until death released him from his cares, in 1870. His 
wife, after surviving him about thirteen years, passed to her reward February 
27, 1883. They were the parents of twelve children, of whom Agnes, the eldest, 
died in infancy; Richard, Elizabeth, Squire, Margaret and Pleasant are 
deceased; Newton lives in Morris, Illinois; Chapman and Sylvanus W. reside in 
Livingston county, this state; Mary’s home is near Marion, Indiana; S. W., our 
subject; and Martha died December 23, 1899.

The birth of S. W. Furr occurred in Frederick county, Virginia, September 13, 
1837, and in 1854, when he was in his eighteenth year, he came to this state, 
and for five years aided his father in placing his new farm under cultivation. 
In the spring of 1860 he married and embarked in agriculture upon his own 
account, living in LaSalle county for four years and in Livingston county for 
five years. Since 1869 he has carried on a farm in Grundy county, it being a 
part of the estate of his father-in-law. There are two hundred and forty acres 
in his homestead, all well improved and productive. Mr. Furr is a practical 
farmer, industrious and enterprising, and by judicious management he has 
become well-to-do. He follows in the political footsteps of his father, being 
an ardent Democrat, but he has never sought nor accepted office.

The marriage of Mr. Furr and Mary, the daughter of John and Mary Gray, both of 
whom were natives of Scotland, took place in the spring of 1860. Six sons and 
five daughters were born to our subject and wife, namely: Ida P., who married 
Ira West and lives in Kendall county; James R., who wedded Josie Johnson and 
makes his home in De Kalb county; George N., of this county, whose wife 
formerly was Flora Moseman; Mattie J., the wife of John Woodward, of 
Mississippi; Mary Josephine, the wife of Martin Anderson, of De Kalb county; 
Belle, deceased; Margaret V., who married Martin Seal and lives in the old 
Gray home in Nettle Creek township; and the names of the four youngest boys, 
living at home, are John F., William S., Francis W. and Robert A.

Source:  Biographical and Genealogical Record of La Salle and Grundy County, 
Illinois, Volume 11, Chicago, 1900, p581-582

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