From many parts of the world people have come to enjoy the advantages of
the great state of Illinois, and few have regretted their corning. Although
the percentage of Prussians, compared with the number of inhabitants of that
country and the number of immigrants from her sister nations who have
settled in the land of the free, is not large, those found in this state are
most progressive and they are always regarded as loyal and law-abiding
citizens. The subject of this sketch is no exception to the general rule.
William H. Leseman was born in Price Ninon, near Backonen, Prussia,
October 10, 1834, and when ten years of age was brought to America by his
parents in 1843, first settling in Washington county, this state, but not
finding conditions exactly to their tastes there, finally came on to Marion
county, where they located in August of 1884, and where they soon became
assimilated with the new conditions and civilization, developing a good farm
from the unimproved soil which they secured.
Our subject is the son
of Henry and Christina Leseman, whose family consisted of three sons and an
equal number of daughters, William, our subject, having been the second in
order of birth. He is the only one of the family now living.
After
receiving what education he could in the common schools of this county and
working on his father's farm until he had reached manhood, our subject
married Catherine Dewyer June 18, 1862, and soon thereafter began to work
for himself on the farm. James and Catherine Dewyer were the parents of our
subject's wife. There were eight children in this family, an equal number of
boys and girls, Catherine, the wife of the subject, being the youngest and
the only one of the children now living.
The following children have
been born to our subject and wife, there being eight, seven of whom are
still living; Eddie, deceased; Katie, Henry, James, Albert, William, Alice
and Walter.
Mr. Leseman is the owner of one hundred and sixty acres
of very fertile land, located in Alma township, all under a high state of
cultivation. He carries on a general farming with that discretion and energy
that always insure success and as a result of his able management of the
place he reaps excellent harvests from year to year, making a comfortable
living, and laying up an ample competency for his old age. He keeps his
fields in an excellent condition, carefully rotating his crops and thereby
retaining the original richness of the soil. He has a good and comfortable
dwelling which is nicely furnished, and also a good barn, and considerable
farming machinery, and good stock. All this he has made himself by his own
energy and wise economy.
In politics our subject is a loyal
Republican and takes a great interest in political affairs. In his religious
belief he seems to favor the Methodist denomination, however, his parents
were always Lutherans in the Fatherland. The faith of the subject's wife's
people was that of the Catholic belief, however, they later turned
Protestant, and are now Methodists. Our subject has always been known as a
man of honesty and integrity and he has many friends in his community as a
result of his well regulated life.
Extracted 27 May 2019 by Norma Hass from 1909 Biographical and Reminiscent History of Richland, Clay and Marion Counties, Illinois, pages 430-431.