Logan County Illinois Biography of John Henry Willmert Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm Submitted by: William L. Stephenson, Jr., Biography of John Henry Willmert Biographical Sketches of Logan County Illinois 1901 pages 242-244 Transcription by William L. Stephenson, Jr., - Historian, Bock Family Association In studying the lives and characters of prominent men we are naturally led to inquire into the secret of their success and the motives that prompted their action. Success is a question of genius as held by many, but is it not rather a matter of experience and sound judgment? When we trace the career of those who stand highest in public esteem we find in nearly every case that they are those who have risen gradually, fighting their way in the face of all opposition. Self-reliance, conscientiousness, energy, honesty, these are the traits of character that ensure the highest emoluments and greatest success. To these we may attribute the success that has crowned the efforts of the man whose name stands at the head of this review. Our subject was one of five children who were born to Frederick and Catherine (Ravensburg) Willment. The father was a native of Germany and was reared on a farm, where he assisted his father in the many duties of that calling until he grew to manhood, when he engaged for himself in agricultural pursuits, which he followed with more than ordinary success up to the date of his death, which occurred in 1860. His widow and five children survive him. Our subject was about one and a half years of age at the time of his father's death. The mother was also a native of Germany, and received a good education at the place of her birth. In 1891 she left her native country to join her son, John H. In November, 1872, our subject engaged passage on a steamer and embarked for the United States, landing in the city of New York, where he remained for a short time, looking for work, and, hearing of the opportunities afforded young men of plunk and energy in the far west, he started for Illinois, and arrived in Lincoln, November 16, 1872. He at once found work as a hand on one of the farms about four miles south of the city, where he continued for five years. By close attention to his duties and by energy and perseverance and economical habits he in a short time was enabled to purchase one hundred and eighteen acres of land in Eminence township, on section 26, and here he made many improvements and a home for himself, on which he resided until the year 1886, engaging in general farming and stock raising to some extent. He was successful in all of his undertakings and had the confidence of all who knew him, as an upright and fair dealing man. In the year last named he purchased a farm of one hundred acres also on section 26, Eminence township, which is now under a high state of cultivation and on which he at present resides. From time to time he has added to this property until at this date he is owner of four hundred and seventeen acres of rich and fertile farming land, on sections 25, 26 and 36. Mr. Willmert was united in marriage, on the 10th day of June, 1880, with Miss Caroline Bock, daughter of the late Adam Bock, of Lincoln, Illinois, who was one of the representative citizens of Logan county, his death occurred in August, 1881. To our subject and his wife were born nine children, of whom eight are still living, namely: Frederick W. was born June 20, 1881; Minnie K. was born December 1, 1883; Mary D. was born April 11, 1886; John H. was born March 14, 1888; George A. was born July 25, 1891; Caroline, named after her mother, was born March 14, 1894, and died the 30th of the next May; Martha was born August 9, 1895; and Catherine, named after her grandmother, was born on the 8th of February, 1898; and Albert Carl H. was born April 14, 1901. All of the children reside at home with their parents, and are members of the Evangelical church. Mr. Willmert is a member of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows and also of the Modern Woodmen of America. In politics he is a Republican, and at the present time holds the position of road commissioner of Eminence township, which office he has held for three years. He also held the position of school director for nine years. While never taking a very active part in politics, he has always been a public-spirited man and an advocate for all that tends to advance and improve the interests of the community in which he lives, and especially has he been interested in educational matters, and is giving his children every opportunity that the schools of the county afford. One of the great disadvantages with which he had to contend was his lack of knowledge of the English language, yet he was well versed in the common branches of study in his own language. While not numbered among the pioneers of the county, he has given thirty of the best years of his life to its growth and development, and in every enterprise which has a tendency for the public good he is willing to give of his time and means. He is an enterprising and successful farmer, and is worthy of the esteem to which he is held.