Carroll County IL Biography

HOMER SARTWELL

Homer Sartwell is one of the practical and successful farmers of Savanna Township, owning a beautiful place of 120 acres on section 12. His farm is one of the best improved in the township, and is supplied with a good residence and a first-class and complete set of farm buildings. The farm itself is thoroughly fenced and improved, and is one of the best cultivated to be found in this section of the country. Our subject is a native of Savanna Township, born Feb. 4, 1851. He is the eldest son of Roswell and Susan (Bennett) Sartwell, both now deceased, the father having died at his home in this township in 1857, while still in the prime of life. He was a native of the State of Ohio, and was there reared on a farm, and while still a young man struck out for himself, and coming to Carroll County, began work on the new farm which from the wild prairie he developed, before his untimely decease, into a comfortable home and fertile farm. His wife, Susan Bennett, was a native of Savanna Township, and was there born and reared, her parents being among the very first pioneers who settled in Carroll County. Her father, Charles Bennett, was born in the East, the exact place of his birth not being now known. When he came to this county as a pioneer he was already married, and after settling here, they remained the balance of their lives. They were regarded as among the more worthy of the early pioneers, and were respected not only by their earlier associates, but by the later comers to the county, who learned to look up and respect the hardy pioneers who first opened this region to civilization.

Roswell Sartwell, the father of our subject, was a representative citizen and farmer. He had begun to take a leading position in the county before his death, and had he lived would undoubtedly have become one of its foremost citizens. His wife survived him some years, and also died in this township when she had reached about the same age as her husband. They were the parents of four children, of whom our subject was the eldest. Charles died in infancy; Sarah is the wife of Benjamin Clements; George is married and lives in Colorado.

Our subject was educated in the public schools of his native township, and was here brought up as a farmer, and here his entire life so far has been passed. He was married in Mt. Carroll Township, on April 7, 1872, to Miss Emily Myers, who was born in Carroll Township June 27, 1851, and is the daughter of James and Margaret Myers, both now deceased. They had for many years been farmers and residents of Carroll County, and both were born in the Empire State, and were married there before their emigration to Illinois. Mrs. Sartwell was the youngest but one of their six children, five of whom are living, and four are married and have families. Our subject’s wife was young when her father died, and she lived with her mother until her marriage, and was educated in the common schools of the county.

The marriage of Mr. and Mrs. Sartwell has been blessed to them by the birth of four children – Anna, Bertha, Leon, and Harry – all under the parental roof. Our subject and his wife are both active and intelligent people, and are worthy representatives of the younger class of the agricultural community now growing up, who are natives of the county. In politics Mr. Sartwell is a strong Republican, and he takes much interest in public affairs. Although still a young man, he is on the high road to prosperity, a fact due to his industrious habits, and the good judgment with which he carries out his well-matured plans. His fine farm, good cattle and horses, and well-kept buildings all show his ability, as well as his prosperity in his chosen vocation.

Contributed by Carol Parrish - Portraits & Biographical Pg 904

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