Portrait & Biographical Album of Whiteside Co., Ill pg.340 (partial) Truman Culver, a retired merchant, of Rock Fals, is a native of the Empire State. He is the first son that survieved in the family of Truman J. and Catherine A. (Campbell) Culver, and was born in Booneville, Oneida Co., N.Y., Sept 9, 1835. His parents, natives also of that State, emigrated to Lee County, this State, in 1860, when his father died: his mother is still living, with one of her sons, at Crambridge, Neb. Truman, the subject of this biography, remained at his parental home until he was 17 years of age. At 14 he began to attend school; being subject to asthama, he could not begin earlier. Although his schooling comprised so short a term,--only three years,--he made such progress that he then began to teach; and, was the practice in those days, he “bought his time” and started out in the world for hmself, promising to give his father $200 any time before he was 21. He paid this debt within 18 months. He taught eight terms of district school alternating with attendance as a pupil at higher schools. From the age of 22 to 24 he attended college during the winters and followed manual labor the rest of the year. He next went to Pike’s Peak to dig gold, and was not successful. After remaining there a month, in company with three others, he made two canoes (“dug-outs”)from cottonwood, lased them together...... ------------------------------------------------------------- UGENWEB 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: Virginia Lyons-Ratterree