Biography of Lewis LAVENDER, Hardin County, Illinois

Contributed for use in the USGenWeb Archives
Copyright 1999 Wanda Reed

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These biographies are from The Biographical Review of 
Johnson, Massac, Pope and Hardin Counties, Illinois, 
Chicago, Biograhical Publishing Co., 1898. Transcribed 
and submitted by Wanda Patton Reed 
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LEWIS LAVENDER 
is a son of George Lavender, a native of Virginia, who was 
brought up on a farm, and received but a limited education. 
Coming to Illinois in 1828 he settled in Hardin County. 
Selecting a tract of United States lead land he opened and 
improved a farm, upon which he resided until his death. He 
was married to Elizabeth Shoemaker, daughter of James 
Shoemaker, a native of Virginia, by whom he had seven 
children, three of whom are still living; Mahala, wife of 
Franklin Jackson, living at Harrisburgh, Ill.; Harriet, 
widow of John Brinkley, and Lewis, the subject of this 
sketch. Our subject was born in Botetourt County, Va., 
September 22, 1814, and was brought up on his father's 
farm, securing his early education in a subscription 
school, which was taught in a house built of logs, which
had a dirt floor and fence rails for seats. The window in 
this schoolhouse consisted of a piece of paper stretched 
across an opening made by cutting out a portion of one of 
the logs at one side. not withstanding all the disadvantages
of his youth he secured a fair education, and came to 
Hardin County, Ill., with his father in 1828, where he 
worked on the farm until 1840, was then elected Sheriff of 
Hardin County, serving in that capacity seventeen years, 
after which he was elected County Commissioner, served 
one year and then resigned. He was married February 8, 
1849, to Inda Whitesides, daughter of John Whitesides, 
of Georgia. By this marriage he had eight children, seven 
of whom are now living: Kate, living at home with her 
parents; George, single and living at home; Josephine, 
wife of S.S. Barger, living at Harrisburgh, Ill.; James,
at home; John M., superintendent of the rock quarry at 
Shetlerville, Ill.; Adda, single and living at home, and
Charlie, living in Hardin County. The subject of this 
brief sketch always votes with the Democratic party. 
Although he is now seventy-eight years old he can see 
to read the finest print without glasses. He has always 
been successful as a business man and financier, and as 
a consequence he is one of the wealthiest men in the 
county.
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File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by:
Wanda Reed
<WANDAHOPE@aol.com>