W. C. Alderson, who has lived retired at Virden since 1892, devoted his
attention to general agricultural pursuits throughout his active business
career and won a gratifying measure of success in his undertakings. His
birth occurred in Morgan county, Illinois, on the 12th of February, 1834,
his parents being Robert and Elizabeth (Clack) Alderson, who are mentioned
at greater length on another page of this work in connection with the sketch
of J. D. Alderson, a brother of our subject.
W. C. Alderson remained
at home with his father until twenty-four years of age and then purchased
one hundred acres of land in North Otter township. As his financial
resources increased, owing to his capable management and untiring industry,
he augmented his holdings by additional purchase until they embraced
thirteen hundred and sixty acres of land, one hundred and sixty acres
thereof lying in Sangamon county. He has made a will deeding all this
property to his family. Throughout his entire business career he devoted his
time and energies to the pursuits of farming and stock-raising, both
branches of his business returning to him a gratifying annual income. In
1892 he put aside the active work of the fields and took up his abode in
Virden, where he is now spending the evening of life in well earned ease,
there owning an attractive and substantial residence.
On the 25th of
March, 1858, Mr. Alderson was united in marriage to Miss Lucretia A.
Rafferty, a daughter of Thomas and Mary (Wriston) Rafferty. Their children
were ten in number, namely: William H., who is a resident of Greene county,
Illinois; Lurindy, the deceased wife of James Fair, of Greene county, this
state; Amanda, the deceased wife of Albert Courtney, of San Francisco,
California; Mrs. Alderson; Messina E., who- is the wife of Warner J.
Alderson and resides near Joplin, Missouri; Sarah E., the wife of Mathew
Cunningham, of Carrollton, Illinois; Mary M., the deceased wife of Francis
Walton, of Greene county; Emma, the deceased wife of E. B. Short, of Oxnard,
California; Nancy M., who is the wife of James Hill and resides in Greene
county; and Thomas J., who has passed away. Unto Mr. and Mrs. Alderson were
born ten children, as follows: One who died in infancy; John H., an
extensive landowner residing near Houston, Texas; Warner J., also living in
Texas; another who died in infancy; William E., residing at Virden,
Illinois; Etta, the deceased wife of William R. Riffey, of Macoupin county;
Mary E., who is the wife of Charles Brennan and makes her home in Virden;
Ella M., the wife of H. H. Chaffin, of Virden; Francis B., who is a resident
of Macoupin county; and Iva M., the wife of John G. Clemons, of
Jacksonville, Illinois. Mr. and Mrs. Alderson have twelve grandchildren, all
girls but one.
Mr. Alderson gives his political allegiance to the
democracy and has held the office of school director. In religious faith he
is a Methodist. He has now passed the seventy-seventh milestone on this
earthly pilgrimage and has so lived that he can look back upon the past
without regret and forward to the future without fear.
Extracted 18 May 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 24-29.
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