WEERT BAUER. Among the native sons of Germany who have been an important factor in the progress and development of Christian County, is our subject, who owns and operates a farm on sections 29 and 30, Greenwood Township. He is also one of the veterans of the late war, and had only been in the land of his adoption about two years when he enlisted in her defense. He took part in a number of important battles, being in the service for three years.

The birth of Mr. Bauer occurred in the Kingdom of Hanover, Germany, August 9, 1842. His parents, Hiram and Hannah (Schlotter) Bauer, were likewise natives of Germany, and were the parents of ten children, five sons and five daughters, namely: Heile; John, deceased; Weert; Hermann; Engel; Albert; Annie, wife of John Dickin, of Germany; Grace, wife of John Parrboom, of Greenwood Township; Henry; and Mary, wife of Peter Bollen, of Moweaqua.

The father of these children was a farmer in Germany, and died in the faith of the New Lutheran Church when seventy-two years of age. His wife, who was also a member of that denomination, passed away about 1884, aged sixty-two years. She was the daughter of John Schlotter, who came to America in 1853 and after residing for two years in Madison County, Ill., was called from this life.

Weert Bauer was named in honor of his paternal grandfather, who was a farmer and lived to be sixty-five years old. Our subject came to America in 1860, having been for several years filled with a desire to try his fortunes in Madison County, Ill., where his grandfather had settled a few years previously. On his arrival there he worked for neighboring farmers, receiving $1.25 per week, and was thus employed for two years, or until his enlistment in the army.

He became a member of Company A, Ninety-seventh Illinois Infantry, and participated in the sieges of Vicksburg, Ft. Henry, Ft. Blakely and many less important engagements. On his return from the war he engaged in farming for one summer in Macoupin County, Ill.

On the 14th of September, 1866, Mr. Bauer married Mrs. Annie Miller, widow of Frederick Miller, and daughter of John and Mete (Gelkin) Johnson, who were natives of the Kingdom of Hanover, Germany.

Seven children were born to our subject and wife, as follows: Henry; Rhinehart, deceased; Rhinehart, Herman, Annie, William and Lydia. Henry married Miss Emma Bair and is a resident of Johnson Township; and Rhinehart, who married Miss Lena Elmers, lives in Rosamond Township.

After his marriage Mr. Bauer bought a farm of eighty acres in Macoupin County, Ill., near Gillespie, and there engaged in farming for seven years. In 1874 he came to Christian County and purchased a farm of two hundred and seventy acres of land in Greenwood Township, on which he has since continued to live. He has made a number of substantial improvements upon his place since it came into his possession and here carries on general farming, but gives his main interest and attention to raising stock. He has now about fifty head of cattle, and deals extensively in that kind of stock.

Mr. and Mrs. Bauer are members of the German Methodist Episcopal Church. The former is a member of Nokomis Post No. 336, G. A. R. In politics he supports the Republican party, and though not desirous of political preferment has been elected by his fellow-citizens to fill various local offices of more or less responsibility. For six years he served as Commissioner of Highways and was one of the School Trustees for over twelve years. He is a business man of ability, and his dealings with all have ever been marked by a strong sense of justice, and his conduct is in keeping with the Golden Rule.