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 674 & 677; Transcribed by Margaret Rose Whitehurst
Joseph H. Darland. Among the young men who are cultivating
a portion of the soil of this county with gratifying success should be
mentioned this gentleman, who is a prominent agriculturist in Young
Hickory Township. The history of the family from which he sprang
is found elsewhere in this volume, in the biographical notice of his
father, Morrison Darland.
The birth of our subject took place in the township where he is
now living, April 1, 1853. The first school which he attended was
in an old log schoolhouse with slab benches and other primitive
furnishings, but as he grew older the facilities for instruction were
greatly improved. The lad was early taught to be useful on the
farm, and can remember plowing when but nine years old. As soon
as he was old enough to assist much in tilling the soil his school
attendance was confined mostly to the winter season. He remained
with his father until his marriage in the winter of 1875, when he
located on that part of his father’s estate which is on section 24, and
began farming for himself. The estate is excellently improved,
having all the necessary conveniences for the farm and household
economy.
Mr. Darland is a successful tiller of the soil, raising grains
whose quantity compares favorably with that upon adjoining estates and
ranks high in quality. He also raises graded cattle and hogs, and
generally has from twelve to sixteen head of horses. In his love
for equines and his judgment regarding their good points he is a “chip
of the old block,” and one is sure to see fine animals at his
home. Mr. Darland is enterprising and pubic spirited, well
informed and of a social nature. He belongs to Fairview Lode, No.
350, F. & A. M., and to the organization of Modern Woodmen of
America in the same town. Like his father, he is a stanch
supporter of the principles of Democracy. He has been called upon
to serve in some public capacities, having been Collector one year and
School Director for some time. He also served on the petit jury.
The marriage rites of our subject and Miss Arminda White were
celebrated at the home of the bride’s parents in Fairview Township,
December 30, 1875. The bride was born in that township, of which
her parents, Richard and Clarissa (Neff) White, were early
settlers. Mr. White, who is a native of Franklin County, Ohio,
removed from this county to McDonough, but after a short time returned
hither, settling in Young Hickory Township, where he owns one hundred
and sixty acres of land. Mrs. White is likewise a native of the
Buckeye State. Mrs. Darland is an estimable woman, intelligent
and possessed of much housewifely skill. Her happy union has been
blessed to herself and her husband by the birth of two children – Clara
J. and Lora A.
