Horace Ebert Rutherford, a successful representative of the
agricultural interests of Macoupin county and the owner of one of the
productive farms of Nil wood township, is a native of this county, born
in Girard township, December 9, 1851. He is a son of Julius and Melissa
(Landon) Rutherford, the former of whom was born in Kentucky and the
latter in Vermont. The family on the paternal side has been traced to
North Carolina, where Joseph Rutherford, the grandfather of our subject,
was born. Horace Landon, the grandfather on the maternal side was a
native of Vermont. The father of our subject came to Illinois in the
pioneer days and took up three hundred and twenty acres of land in
Nilwood township, where he spent the remainder of his life.
Mr.
Rutherford, whose name stands at the head of this sketch, attended the
district schools and pursued his education further at the Illinois State
Normal. After leaving this institution he went with his sister to Texas
and taught school, but returned in 1872 to Kirksville, Missouri, where
he became a student of the normal school. In 1873 he took up his
residence on the home farm, where he has ever since continued. He has
greatly improved the place until it now possesses all the accessories
and conveniences of a twentieth century farm. He practices rotation of
crops and has shown in business affairs an excellency of judgment which
has been productive of highly satisfactory returns. In addition to the
ownership of valuable farm property he is a stockholder in the Nil wood
State Bank.
On the 31st of August, 1876, Mr. Rutherford was
married to Miss Jemima King, a native of Palmyra township and a daughter
of Wesley and Ellen (Steidly) King. To this union eight children were
born: Cecil, who married Bessie Turner, of Nilwood township; Daisy, who
became the wife of William Eckels, of Staunton, and has three children;
Wesley, who is at home; Alta, who married William Debold, of
Springfield, Illinois; and Edgar, Ruth, May, and Percy, all of whom are
at home. The children were given good advantages of education and
engaged in school teaching, several of them being now actively
identified with that occupation. Mrs. Rutherford died in May, 1906, and
on June 4, 1908, Mr. Rutherford was married to Miss Marion Morrison, a
native of this state and a daughter of Samuel and Elizabeth (Crowder)
Morrison, the former of whom was born in Ireland and the latter in
Illinois. By his second marriage Mr. Rutherford has two children, Marion
Elizabeth and Horace E., Jr.
Mr. Rutherford early perceived the
benefits of education and has throughout his active life been one of the
stanch supporters of the public schools. He has also been thoroughly
wide-awake to the possibilities of the great state of Illinois and has
demonstrated his practical knowledge of agriculture and stock-raising,
heing recognized as one of the most efficient and progressive farmers of
the township. Politically he is allied with the democratic party and
religiously is affiliated with the Baptist church. He is a stanch
believer in fraternal organizations and for many years has held
membership in the Odd Fellows, being also identfiied with the Mutual
Protective League.
Extracted 18 Nov 2018 by Norma Hass from History of Macoupin County, Illinois: Biographical and Pictorial, by Charles A. Walker, published in 1911, Volume 2, pages 681-682.
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