History of Fulton County, Illinois; together with
Sketches of its Cities, Villages and Townships, Educational, Religious,
Civil, Military, and Political History; Portraits of Prominent Persons
and Biographies of Representative Citizens. Chas. C. Chapman & Co.,
Peoria, Illinois, 1879, page 653-654, Farmers' Township
William Carithers, of the firm of W. & J. Carithers,
merchants, Table Grove. When the red man and the deer sported through
the forests of Farmers' tp., William Carithers, sen., emigrated hither
with his family and settled on sec. 33. He became a prominent farmer,
adding to his little homestead until he left 320 acres of valuable land
to his heirs. He died Feb. 14, 1851, at the age of 50 years, leaving to
his widow a family of 7 children, 6 boys and 1 girl. Mrs. C. is still
living on the old home place, at the age of 62 years. There has been no
death in the family since the death of Mr. C. The boys are all happily
settled around near the old homestead, transacting business for
themselves. Robert is a bachelor farmer of McDonough Co., owning 200
acres of well-improved land. Our subject is in the mercantile business
with his younger brother, John, in Table Grove. They began business
here July 15, 1871, in a building 22x50 feet, capital, $2,600. At
present the building is 22x80 feet, present capital, $20,000; annual
sales, $20,000.
