Portrait and Biographical Album of Fulton County,
Illinois: containing full page portraits and biographical sketches of
prominent and representative citizens of the county: together with
portraits and biographies of all the presidents of the United States,
and governors of the state; Biographical Pub. Co., Chicago, IL; 1890;
page 417-418; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
Lebbeus B. Ault, occupies an honorable place among the
intelligent, capable farmers of this county, and he is a valued citizen
of Deerfield Township, in whose social, public and religious life he is
a prominent factor. His parents, Jacob and Rachael (Pouder) Ault were
born in Hanover, York County, Pa., and in Westminster, Frederick
County, Md., respectively.
Our subject is a native of the latter place, and was born
September 29, 1821, he being the eldest and the only son living, of
five children, four boys and one girl. He was early left an orphan by
the death of his father and mother, the latter dying in 1830, and at
the age of nine years went to live with his grandfather. He remained
with him till he was twenty-two years old, and then went to work for
himself by the month on a farm, and was thus occupied one year. His
next employment was with a doctor for whom he did chores, etc.,
remaining with him three and one-half years. After that we hear of him
in Baltimore, where he learned the trade of a shoe-maker, and worked at
it for about four years. Returning to Westminster, he made his home
with his grandfather until 1856. In that year he started out into the
world again, and made his way to this State and county, leaving his old
home April 12. After his arrival here he took up his abode with his
cousin A. J. Smith, and was with him about two years.
After that our subject was married September 4, 1860, taking as
his wife Margaret A., daughter of Thomas and Jane (Robinson) Sexton.
She is a native of Fayette County, Ohio, and was born January 2, 1841.
Immediately subsequent to his wedding Mr. Ault located on section 28,
Deerfield Township, and after living there about two years, bought
thirty-four acres of land on section 16, of the same township. Six
years later he traded that place for sixty-two and one-fourth acres of
land, thirty-four on section 16, and thirty-eight and one-fourth acres
on section 21, and here he has resided ever since. He sold
three-fourths of an acre for a schoolhouse site, and the remainder of
his land he has put under excellent cultivation, and reaps in repayment
for his labors fine harvests. His buildings are in good order, and
everything about the place betokens thrift and superior management on
the part of the owner.
Mr. and Mrs. Ault have eleven children, as follows: Mary A.,
wife of J. W. Utsinger of Deerfield Township; Rachael A., wife of
Charles B. Craft, of Arkansas County, Ark.; Matilda J., wife of Lewis
Mahr of Deerfield Township; Robert E., Rosa E., John A., Lebbeus A.,
Emory J., Achsa C., Margaret A., and Jacob T., all of whom are at home
with their parents, with the exception of the married daughters.
In recognition of his skill as a farmer, and of his worth in
every particular, our subject's fellow members have made him President
of the Farmers' Alliance of Deerfield Township. He takes much interest
in political matters and affiliates with the Democrats. Three times he
has been elected Collector of the township but he resigned the third
time. He was School Director for nine years and was Town Clerk four
years. He is a member in high standing of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, and is an active-worker in the fold. He has been Class Leader
and Trustee and has taken part in the Sunday-school. He helped to
organize the first Sunday-school in the township and has been teacher,
Assistant Superintendent and Superintendent of the school and was also
Justice of the Peace four years.
